Effect of MK-801-induced impairment of inhibitory avoidance learning in zebrafish via inactivation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in telencephalon.
N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are implicated in a wide range of complex behavioral functions, including cognitive activity. Numerous studies have shown that using the repetitive administration of a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801, induces amnesia in rodents. In this study, the effect of a subchronic MK-801 treatment on the cognitive function of zebrafish was evaluated using a novel inhibitory avoidance task. First, we established a new system to investigate the inhibitory avoidance learning of zebrafish where they were trained to refrain from swimming from a shallow compartment to a deep compartment in order to avoid electric shock. Second, we found that blocking NMDA receptors by MK-801 could significantly attenuate the inhibitory avoidance behavior of the zebrafish and alter the telencephalic extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation level 90 min after the inhibitory avoidance training. These results suggest that the formation of long-term emotional memory is possibly mediated by ERK activation in the telencephalon of zebrafish.
Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Ming-Chong
MC
Ng
Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chun-Po
CP
Hsu
Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yao-Ju
YJ
Wu
Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Shih-Yu
SY
Wu
Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Chia-Yi University, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.
Yi-Ling
YL
Yang
Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan. ktlu@ntnu.edu.tw.
Kwok-Tung
KT
Lu
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000201:enzymology*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000502:physiology*
D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases