BDNF regulates the maturation of inhibition and the critical period of plasticity in mouse visual cortex

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which regulates maturation of inhibition and the critical period of plasticity in the visual cortex of mice, is discussed. Visual cortex maturation is influenced by visual experience during an early postnatal period. In transgenic mice in which the postnatal increase of BDNF was speeded up, this was studied. Maturation of GABAergic innervation and inhibition was speeded up and the age-dependent decline of cortical long-term potentiation induced by white matter stimulation happened sooner. Precocious development of visual acuity and an earlier end for the critical period for ocular dominance plasticity was seen.