Improved alternative electro-stimulus Y-maze for evaluating the spatial memory of rats.
- Author:
Jian YU
1
;
Yu-wen HUANG
;
Zhong CHEN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Animals; Dizocilpine Maleate; pharmacology; Electric Stimulation; Male; Maze Learning; drug effects; Memory; drug effects; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Scopolamine Hydrobromide; pharmacology
- From: Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2003;32(2):121-140
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo establish an effective model for evaluating the spatial memory of rats.
METHODSThe adjacent left or right arm in Y-maze was defined as an initial arm or an objective one alternatively, and electro-stimulus to vola was used as a reinforcement. Meanwhile, the reliability of the model was validated by measuring the memory deficits induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg) or bilaterally intrahippocampal (i.h.) microinjection of MK-801(0.2 microg/site).
RESULTSThe normal, sham-operated or saline-treated rats learned the left-right alternative memory model rapidly while injection of either scopolamine or MK-801 caused spatial memory deficits in Y-maze, including deficits in working and reference memory. Moreover,there was no appreciable difference in electricity intensity between the treated group and the control group.
CONCLUSIONThe alternative Y-maze with electro-stimulus is a comparatively objective model which can evaluate the spatial memory in rats effectively.T
