title: Short-term recognition memory correlates with regional CNS expression of microRNA-138 in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that microRNA (miR) expression may be involved in memory function because it controls local protein translation at synapses and dendritic spines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the miR repertoire in the hippocampus of young, 6-month-old (N = 18) mice compared with aged, 26-month-old (N = 23) mice and compared miR quantity to memory scores as determined by the novel object recognition task. We performed a histological brain regional analysis of miR-138, acyl protein thioesterase 1 (APT1) mRNA, and APT1 protein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that higher miR-138 expression in the mouse hippocampus is correlated with better memory performance. We also found that APT1 (a depalmytoylation enzyme expressed at dendritic spines whose translation is controlled by miR-138) mRNA is increased in the mouse hippocampal CA1 and dentate gyrus in aged mice compared with young mice, but not in mice with memory impairment. We found APT1 protein distribution to be lower in cells with high miR-138 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that increased miR-138 is associated with better memory and increased APT1 gene transcription occurs with aging. The role of miR-138 and APT1 protein function in memory and aging warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0603, USA.
authors.forename: Erick T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Tatro
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Risbrough
authors.forename: Benchawanna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Soontornniyomkij
authors.forename: Jared
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shumaker-Armstrong
authors.forename: Dilip V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Jeste
authors.forename: Cristian L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Achim
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C583174:MIRN138 microRNA, mouse; D035683:MicroRNAs; C581318:Lypla1 protein, mouse; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases