Modulation of cofilin 1 phosphorylation induces juvenile-like plasticity in the adult mouse visual cortex
Posted by Ernesto on Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Autores:
Agustina Dapueto 1 , Emilia Hayek 2 , Alejo Acuña 3 , Bruno Pannunzio 4 , Leonel Gomez 5 , Francesco M Rossi 6
Revista (o libro):
Neuroscience
Año:
2026
Mes-dia:
0226
issue, vol, paginas, etc:
595:262-269
doi:
10.1016/j.neuroscience.2026.01.003
PMID:
41506312
Abstract:
Cofilin 1 is an actin-depolymerizing protein that plays a fundamental role in actin dynamics, particularly within dendritic spines, where it has been implicated in both structural and functional plasticity. We recently demonstrated, using a combination of differential proteomics, western blot and immunohistochemistry, that the expression of cofilin 1 and its inactive phosphorylated form is dynamically regulated in the mouse visual cortex. Expression levels change across critical periods of postnatal development and are modulated by visual experience, suggesting that cofilin 1 plays a dynamic role in synaptic remodeling during windows of heightened cortical plasticity. In this study, we sought to determine whether cofilin 1 influences experience-dependent plasticity in the adult visual cortex, a stage where plasticity is more restricted but still inducible under specific conditions. Specifically, we administered a synthetic peptide inhibitor of cofilin 1 activity in vivo (PCOF). Following monocular deprivation, adult mice received either the PCOF peptide or a control peptide. Structural plasticity was assessed by quantifying dendritic spine density using Golgi-like staining, while visual plasticity was evaluated by measuring visual acuity through the optomotor response test. Our results show that, in adult mice treated with the PCOF peptide - but not in controls - monocular deprivation led to a significant reduction in dendritic spine density in the contralateral visual cortex, as well as a decrease in visual acuity of the previously deprived eye. These findings indicate that cofilin 1 activity is crucial for the regulation of experience-dependent plasticity in the adult mouse visual cortex.
Afiliaciones:
1 Laboratorio de Neurociencias "Unidad de Neuroplasticidad", Instituto de Biología, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Present address: Laboratorio de Mecanismos de Neurodegeneración y Neuroprotección, Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay. Electronic address: agustinadapueto@gmail.com.
2 Laboratorio de Neurociencias "Unidad de Neuroplasticidad", Instituto de Biología, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay. Electronic address: hayekemilia03@gmail.com.
3 Laboratorio de Neurociencias "Unidad de Neuroplasticidad", Instituto de Biología, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay. Electronic address: alejoacu@gmail.com.
4 Laboratorio de Neurociencias "Unidad de Neuroplasticidad", Instituto de Biología, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Present address: Departamento de Histología y Embriología, Facultad de Medicina, UdelaR / Laboratorio de Neuroinflamación y Terapia Génica del Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Uruguay. Electronic address: brunopannunzio@gmail.com.
5 Laboratorio de Neurociencias "Unidad de Neuroplasticidad", Instituto de Biología, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay. Electronic address: leonel.gomez@gmail.com.
6 Laboratorio de Neurociencias "Unidad de Neuroplasticidad", Instituto de Biología, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay. Electronic address: fmrossi@fcien.edu.uy.
Enlace pubmed:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41506312/
Enlace full text:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306452226000035
Cita:
Dapueto A, Hayek E, Acuña A, Pannunzio B, Gomez L, Rossi FM. Modulation of cofilin 1 phosphorylation induces juvenile-like plasticity in the adult mouse visual cortex. Neuroscience. 2026 Feb 16;595:262-269. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2026.01.003. Epub 2026 Jan 6. PMID: 41506312.