Post-training progesterone dose-dependently enhances object, but not spatial, memory consolidation.
The aim of this study was to determine if progesterone modulates object and spatial memory consolidation in young ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice. Object memory was tested in an object recognition task using 24- and 48-h delays. Spatial memory was tested in a 2-day version of the Morris water maze in which retention was tested 24 or 48 h after training. Immediately after training in each task, mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of vehicle or 5, 10, or 20mg/kg water-soluble progesterone. Mice were then tested 24 or 48 h later in the absence of circulating progesterone. Post-training injections of 10 and 20mg/kg progesterone enhanced object recognition, but not memory in the spatial water maze. These findings suggest that object memory consolidation in young female mice is more sensitive to the modulatory effects of progesterone than spatial memory consolidation, at least using the tasks, doses, and delays tested. As such, these findings may have important implications for the design of progesterone therapies intended to reduce age-related memory decline.
Harburger
Lauren L
LL
Department of Psychology, 2 Hillhouse Avenue, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. lauren.harburger@yu.edu
Pechenino
Angela S
AS
Saadi
Altaf
A
Frick
Karyn M
KM
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D003463:Cues; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011372:Progestins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D013550:Swimming; D013997:Time Factors
D011372:Progestins; D011374:Progesterone