Development of intrinsic properties and excitability of layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons during a critical period for sensory maps in rat barrel cortex

The development of layer 2/3 sensory maps in rat barrel cortex (BC) is experience dependent with a critical period around postnatal days (PND) 10-14. The role of intrinsic response properties of neurons in this plasticity has not been investigated. Here we characterize the development of BC layer 2/3 intrinsic responses to identify possible sites of plasticity. Whole cell recordings were performed on pyramidal cells in acute BC slices from control and deprived rats, over ages spanning the critical period (PND 12, 14, and 17). Vibrissa trimming began at PND 9. Spiking behavior changed from phasic (more spike frequency adaptation) to regular (less adaptation) with age, such that the number of action potentials per stimulus increased. Changes in spiking properties were related to the strength of a slow Ca²⁺ dependent afterhyperpolarization. Maturation of the spiking properties of layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons coincided with the close of the critical period and was delayed by deprivation. Other measures of excitability, including 1-f curves and passive membrane properties, were affected by development but unaffected by whisker deprivation.