Inhibition of mRNA synthesis in the hippocampus impairs consolidation and reconsolidation of spatial memory.
Using two different mRNA synthesis inhibitors, we show that blockade of hippocampal gene expression during restricted posttraining or postretrieval time windows hinders retention of long-term spatial memory for the Morris water maze task, without affecting short-term memory, nonspatial learning, or the functionality of the hippocampus. Our results indicate that spatial memory consolidation induces the activation of the hippocampal transcriptional machinery and suggest the existence of a gene expression-dependent reconsolidation process that operates in the dorsal hippocampus at the moment of retrieval to stabilize the reactivated mnemonic trace.
Da Silva
Weber C
WC
Centro de Memória, Instituto de Pesquisas Biomédicas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga 6690, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Bonini
Juliana S
JS
Bevilaqua
Lia R M
LR
Medina
Jorge H
JH
Izquierdo
Iván
I
Cammarota
Martín
M
D053959:Alpha-Amanitin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004004:Dichlororibofuranosylbenzimidazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology*
D053959:Alpha-Amanitin; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004004:Dichlororibofuranosylbenzimidazole