Fig. 8.

Comparison of the reactivation profile of the deprived visual cortex in pre-stimulated [Stim-7wME (red), DE-Stim-7wME mice (blue)] versus late stimulated mice [7wME-Stim at 3w (pink) and DE-7wME-Stim at 3w (light blue)], and Sham-7wME mice (black). Images of three adjacent zif268-mRNA labeled coronal cryosections surrounding bregma level − 3.40 mm of a 7wME-Stim at 3 weeks post-ME (3w) mouse (a), and a DE-7wME-Stim at 3w mouse (b). The resulting activity pattern was less strongly downregulated compared to the Sham-7wME mouse (Fig. 4a). The corresponding pseudocolor representations of signal intensity differences are displayed next to their respective ISH sections. Scale bar = 2 mm, P posterior, M medial. Line graphs illustrate the relative zif268-mRNA expression level measured as the average OD-value per segment (0–24) from lateral to medial for sham-7wME mice, 7wME-Stim at 3w and Stim-7wME mice (c, d), and sham-7wME mice, DE-7wME-Stim at 3w and DE-Stim-7wME mice (g, h). The expression levels are displayed in relation to the visual subdivisions separated by hollow arrowheads which are in accordance with the small arrowheads in a, b, including the subdivision between monocular zones m and binocular zones b, separately for supra- and granular layers II/III and IV (a) and infragranular layers V and VI (b). Error bars represent SEM. Relative zif268-mRNA expression levels are displayed as OD-values averaged over the binocular zone, Bz and the medial monocular zone, Mmz for upper (e, i) and lower layers (f, j). Bz corresponds to V2Lb combined with V1b (dark grey) and Mmz to V1m and V2M (light grey) as displayed in c, d, g, h. Error bars are SEM. Comparison of the OD-values of sham-7wME mice, 7wME-Stim at 3w and Stim-7wME mice, reveal that stimulation after 3wME results in a layer-specific intermediate activity pattern, in infragranular layers the activity pattern was more similar compared to sham-7wME and higher compared to Stim-7wME, in supra- and granular layers the activity pattern was lower compared to sham-7wME and similar to Stim-7wME. In DE-conditions, the activity pattern of DE-7wME-Stim at 3w mice was similar to sham-7wME, but higher compared to DE-Stim-7wME in supra- and granular, and infragranular layers (sham-7wME, upper layers, Bz: average ± SEM; 85.87 ± 0.99; Mmz: 69.48 ± 1.90; lower layers, Bz: 81.29 ± 0.76; Mmz: 69.72 ± 1.09; 7wME-Stim at 3w, upper layers, Bz: 78.32 ± 1.77; Mmz: 54.77 ± 2.44; lower layers, Bz: 83.32 ± 1.25; Mmz: 65.01 ± 1.50; Stim-7wME, upper layers, Bz: 73.83 ± 1.71; Mmz: 63.99 ± 1.91; lower layers, Bz: 69.00 ± 1.37; Mmz: 58.33 ± 2.17; DE-7wME-Stim at 3w, upper layers, Bz: 78.36 ± 1.61 ; Mmz: 58.62 ± 1.89; lower layers, Bz: 80.47 ± 1.16; Mmz: 70.08 ± 1.83; DE-Stim-7wME, upper layers, Bz: 63.99 ± 1.91 ; Mmz: 34.72 ± 1.90; lower layers, Bz: 58.57 ± 1.61; Mmz: 40.78 ± 1.14). *P ≤ 0.05, **P ≤ 0.001, ***P ≤ 0.0001