Depolymerization of actin facilitates memory formation in an insect.
In mammals, memory formation and stabilization requires polymerization of actin. Here, we show that, in the honeybee, inhibition of actin polymerization within the brain centres involved in memory formation, the mushroom bodies (MBs), enhances associative olfactory memory. Local application of inhibitors of actin polymerization (Cytochalasin D or Latrunculin A) to the MBs 1 h before induction of long-term memory increased memory retention 2 and 24 h after the onset of training. Post-training application of Cytochalasin D also enhanced retention, indicating that memory consolidation is facilitated by actin depolymerization. We conclude that certain aspects of memory mechanisms could have been established independently in mammals and insects.
Institute of Neurobiology, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany. olgaganesh@gmail.com
Olga
O
Ganeshina
Jessika
J
Erdmann
Sandra
S
Tiberi
Misha
M
Vorobyev
Randolf
R
Menzel
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D015638:Cytochalasin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D057567:Memory, Long-Term / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008845:Microinjections; D024521:Mushroom Bodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D010590:Phalloidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D058105:Polymerization / Q000187:drug effects; D012235:Rhodamines; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D053778:Thiazolidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D000199:Actins; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D012235:Rhodamines; D053778:Thiazolidines; C504731:rhodamine-phalloidin; D010590:Phalloidine; D015638:Cytochalasin D; C037067:latrunculin A