Figure 6.

CRc density controls the activity of apical dendrites in L1

(A) Schematics of the experimental strategy. L5 pyramidal neurons were transfected with adeno-associated virus (AAV)-GCaMP6f and their dendrites were imaged in L1 of the barrel cortex through a cranial window, in response to whisker deflections during isoflurane anesthesia.

(B) Two-photon Ca²⁺ imaging from apical dendrites of L5 neurons in S1 expressing GCaMP6f. Fluorescence change was measured in Ca²⁺ sources that were automatically segmented (left). Example traces of calcium transients (ΔF/F₀) in sources obtained from controls and ΔNp73^cre/+;R26^dt-a/+ mutants upon 10 whisker stimulations (right).

(C) Example traces of single whisker-evoked calcium transients from one typical calcium source in controls (top) and ΔNp73^cre/+;R26^dt-a/+ mutants (bottom) mice.

(D) Quantifications of the evoked amplitude showing a selective reduction in apical spine density in the experimental condition (n = 3 controls and n = 5 ΔNp73^cre/+;R26^dt-a/+ mutants).

Values are expressed as means ± SEMs, Mann-Whitney test. Scale bars represent 20 μm in (B).