title: Decreased NGFI-A gene expression in the hippocampus of cognitively impaired aged rats.
abstract: Hippocampal NGFI-A gene expression is increased following the induction of long-term potentiation, a form of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity that has been implicated in learning. In this study, we show a positive correlation between spatial learning and the constitutive expression of NGFI-A mRNA, selectively in CA1 pyramidal neurons. NGFI-A mRNA expression decreased with age in CA1, CA2 and neocortex. Long-term amitriptyline treatment, which improved spatial learning in young rats, had no significant effects on NGFI-A mRNA levels. Whether hippocampal NGFI-A plays a direct role in the mechanism of learning and memory remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, Molecular Medicine Centre, Western General Hospital, UK. jy@srv0.med.ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Seckl
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; C486110:Egr1 protein, rat; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors