Fig 4. 5HT2A receptor mediates visual deprivation-induced enhancement of lateral inhibitory pathways.

(A) (Left) Synaptic responses at layer 2/3-2/3 synapses in the barrel cortex of vehicle-treated rats with 2days VD (Vehicle), Volinanserin (5HT2A receptor antagonist)-treated rats with 2days VD (Volinanserin) or Volinanserin-treated intact rats (Intact Volinanserin). (Right) Mean IPSC/EPSC ratio. Vehicle exhibited the larger IPSC/EPSC ratio compared to Volinanserin and Intact Volinanserin (Vehicle: n = 9, Volinanserin: n = 8, Intact Volinanserin: n = 8. *, p < 0.05, ANOVA with Fisher's Least Significant Difference test. Error bars, ±SEM). (B) (Left) Synaptic responses at layer 2/3-2/3 synapses in the barrel cortex of vehicle-treated rats with 7days VD (Vehicle) or Volinanserin -treated rats with 7days VD (Volinanserin). (Right) Mean IPSC/EPSC ratio. Vehicle exhibited the larger IPSC/EPSC ratio compared to Volinanserin (Vehicle: n = 10, 7days Volinanserin: n = 7. *, p < 0.05, Student's t-test. Error bars, ∓SEM). (C) (Left) Evoked miniature IPSC (mIPSC) responses at layer 2/3-2/3 synapses in the barrel cortex of vehicle-treated rats with 2days VD (Vehicle), Volinanserin -treated rats with 2days VD (Volinanserin) or Volinanserin-treated intact rats (Intact Volinanserin). (holding potential at -75mV with CNQX). (Right) Mean amplitude of evoked mIPSCs. Vehicle exhibited the larger amplitude of evoked mIPSCs compared to Volinanserin and Intact Volinanserin (Vehicle: n = 6, Volinanserin: n = 7, Intact Volinanserin: n = 7. *, p < 0.05, ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-hoc analyses. Error bars, ∓SEM). (D) (Left) Evoked mIPSC responses at layer 2/3-2/3 synapses in the barrel cortex of vehicle-treated rats with 7days VD (Vehicle) or Volinanserin-treated rats with 7days VD (Volinanserin). (Right) Mean amplitude of evoked mIPSCs. Vehicle exhibited the larger amplitude of evoked mIPSCs compared to Volinanserin (Vehicle: n = 8, Volinanserin: n = 7. *, p < 0.05, Student's t-test. Error bars, ±SEM). (E) Schematic representation of electrophysiological experiment. Current clamp recordings were obtained from fast-spiking cells and recorded the firing pattern. After current clamp recordings, SrCl₂ was applied into ACSF. Evoked miniature EPSCs (mEPSCs) were recorded with the voltage clamp mode at -60 mV. (F) (Left) Synaptic responses at layer 4-2/3 synapses of fast-spiking cells in 7days VD rats treated with Vehicle or Volinanserin. (Right) Mean amplitude of evoked mEPSCs. 7days VD with vehicle treatment (Vehicle) exhibited the larger amplitude of evoked mEPSCs compared to Volinanserin (Vehicle: n = 5, Volinanserin: n = 6. *, p < 0.05, Student's t-test. Error bars, ±SEM).