Silvia Landi

TL;DR: The data further characterize the ultrastructural analysis of the KD mouse model, and support recent theories of a dying-back mechanism for neuronal degeneration, which is independent of demyelination.

TL;DR: It is found that chondroitinase ABC treatment coupled with reverse lid-suturing causes a complete recovery of ocular dominance, visual acuity, and dendritic spine density in adult rats, suggesting manipulations of the extracellular matrix can be used to promote functional recovery in the adult cortex.

TL;DR: Examining Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor levels in the visual cortex during development showed that an increase occurs in the first week of life in enriched pups compared to standard reared pups; BDNF levels at birth were equal in the two groups, suggesting a postnatal rather than a prenatal effect of environment on BDNF.

TL;DR: It is shown that a prominent component of the matrix, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), restrains morphological changes of dendritic spines in the visual cortex of adult mice and after enzymatic digestion of CSPGs, cortical spines become more motile and express a larger degree of structural and functional plasticity.

TL;DR: Results show that IGF-1 is a key factor mediating EE effects on visual cortical development through the modulation of intracortical inhibitory circuitry and PNN development, and shows that it affects GAD65 immunoreactivity in perisomatic innervation and the condensation of Chondroitin Sulphate Proteoglycans in perineuronal nets in the visual cortex.