WHISKER FOLLICLE REMOVAL AFFECTS SOMATOTOPY AND INNERVATION OF OTHER FOLLICLES IN ADULT MICE

The present study shows that in the whisker-to-barrel pathway of adult mice surgical removal of three whisker follicles leads to the expansi on of the functional cortical representation of the whiskers adjacent to the lesion into the deprived barrels within 8 months, Concomitant w ith this enlargement, there is an increase in follicular innervation o f the corresponding whiskers, This reorganization of the peripheral in nervation may be important for the observed reshaping of cortical soma totopy.