Existence of long-lasting experience-dependent plasticity in endocrine cell networks

David J. Hodson (), Marie Schaeffer, Nicola Romanò, Pierre Fontanaud, Chrystel Lafont, Jerome Birkenstock, François Molino, Helen Christian, Joe Lockey, Danielle Carmignac, Marta Fernandez-Fuente, Paul Le Tissier and Patrice Mollard ()
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David J. Hodson: CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier F-34000, France.
Marie Schaeffer: CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier F-34000, France.
Nicola Romanò: CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier F-34000, France.
Pierre Fontanaud: CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier F-34000, France.
Chrystel Lafont: CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier F-34000, France.
Jerome Birkenstock: CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier F-34000, France.
François Molino: CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier F-34000, France.
Helen Christian: Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK.
Joe Lockey: Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK.
Danielle Carmignac: MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
Marta Fernandez-Fuente: MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
Paul Le Tissier: MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
Patrice Mollard: CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier F-34000, France.

Nature Communications, 2012, vol. 3, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Experience-dependent plasticity of cell and tissue function is critical for survival by allowing organisms to dynamically adjust physiological processes in response to changing or harsh environmental conditions. Despite the conferred evolutionary advantage, it remains unknown whether emergent experience-dependent properties are present in cell populations organized as networks within endocrine tissues involved in regulating body-wide homeostasis. Here we show, using lactation to repeatedly activate a specific endocrine cell network in situ in the mammalian pituitary, that templates of prior demand are permanently stored through stimulus-evoked alterations to the extent and strength of cell–cell connectivity. Strikingly, following repeat stimulation, evolved population behaviour leads to improved tissue output. As such, long-lasting experience-dependent plasticity is an important feature of endocrine cell networks and underlies functional adaptation of hormone release.

Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1612

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