Aversive experiences are associated with a rapid and transient activation of ERKs in the rat hippocampus.
The extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) family of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) has been shown to participate in memory formation. We recently found that a hippocampal ERK/MAPK cascade is required for memory formation of an inhibitory avoidance training in rats. Here we reported that this learning task is accompanied by a rapid increase in the phosphorylation of hippocampal p44 MAPK. A single mild foot shock produced a similar effect and three consecutive foot shocks provoked the activation of both p44 and p42 MAPKs. In contrast, a brief exposure to the training box or the habituation to an open field did not alter hippocampal ERK/MAPK levels. Together, these findings indicate that aversive behavioral experiences induced a rapid and transient activation of ERK/MAPKs in the hippocampus.
Alonso
Mariana
M
Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biologia Celular y Neurociencias Professor Dr. Eduardo de Robertis, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina.
Viola
Haydee
H
Izquierdo
Ivan
I
Medina
Jorge H
JH
D000818:Animals; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013663:Teaching
D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases