title: Decreased acetylcholine release delays the consolidation of object recognition memory.
abstract: Acetylcholine (ACh) is important for different cognitive functions such as learning, memory and attention. The release of ACh depends on its vesicular loading by the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT). It has been demonstrated that VAChT expression can modulate object recognition memory. However, the role of VAChT expression on object recognition memory persistence still remains to be understood. To address this question we used distinct mouse lines with reduced expression of VAChT, as well as pharmacological manipulations of the cholinergic system. We showed that reduction of cholinergic tone impairs object recognition memory measured at 24h. Surprisingly, object recognition memory, measured at 4 days after training, was impaired by substantial, but not moderate, reduction in VAChT expression. Our results suggest that levels of acetylcholine release strongly modulate object recognition memory consolidation and appear to be of particular importance for memory persistence 4 days after training.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Brain Research Group, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5K8 Canada. xavierdejaeger@gmail.com
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: De Jaeger
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cammarota
authors.forename: Marco A M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: Vania F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: Grace S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057567:Memory, Long-Term / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C493460:Slc18a3 protein, mouse; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins