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Brief exposure to an enriched environment improves performance on the Morris water task and increases hippocampal cytosolic protein kinase C activity in young rats.
- Source :
-
Behavioural brain research [Behav Brain Res] 1992 Nov 30; Vol. 52 (1), pp. 49-59. - Publication Year :
- 1992
-
Abstract
- This study was designed to determine whether brief exposure to an enriched environment around the time of weaning would affect learning and memory processes in young rats. In addition, this study sought to determine if experience in an enriched environment would alter hippocampal protein kinase C (PKC) which is thought to be a possible neural substrate that underlies learning and memory processes. Animals were either reared in an enriched environment or standard laboratory cages starting at 15 days old. After 6 (21 days old) or 12 (27 days old) days subjects were either tested in the Morris water task, or had the hippocampus removed for biochemical analysis of PKC activity. Morris water task results showed that compared to laboratory reared controls, the performance of subjects reared in the enriched environment for 12 days, but not 6 days, was improved. In addition, 12 days of exposure to the enriched environment, but not 6 days, produced more cytosolic hippocampal PKC activity. The particulate fraction appeared not to be affected by rearing in the enriched environment. Brief exposure to an enriched environment around weaning, therefore, both improved Morris water task performance and increased hippocampal PKC activity. These outcomes suggest that performance in the Morris water task and hippocampal PKC may be functionally related.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Escape Reaction physiology
Female
Male
Problem Solving physiology
Rats
Reaction Time physiology
Reversal Learning physiology
Weaning
Cytosol metabolism
Discrimination Learning physiology
Hippocampus physiology
Mental Recall physiology
Orientation physiology
Protein Kinase C physiology
Social Environment
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0166-4328
- Volume :
- 52
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Behavioural brain research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 1472287
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/s0166-4328(05)80324-9