title: Relief memory consolidation requires protein synthesis within the nucleus accumbens.
abstract: Relief learning refers to the association of a stimulus with the relief from an aversive event. The thus-learned relief stimulus then can induce, e.g., an attenuation of the startle response or approach behavior, indicating positive valence. Previous studies revealed that the nucleus accumbens is essential for the acquisition and retrieval of relief memory. Here, we ask whether the nucleus accumbens is also the brain site for consolidation of relief memory into a long-term form. In rats, we blocked local protein synthesis within the nucleus accumbens by local infusions of anisomycin at different time points during a relief conditioning experiment. Accumbal anisomycin injections immediately after the relief conditioning session, but not 4 h later, prevented the consolidation into long-term relief memory. The retention of already consolidated relief memory was not affected by anisomycin injections. This identifies a time window and site for relief memory consolidation. These findings should complement our understanding of the full range of effects of adverse experiences, including cases of their distortion in humans such as post-traumatic stress disorder and/or phobias.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Johann E A
authors.initials: JEA
authors.lastname: Bruning
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Tino
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Breitfeld
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kahl
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jorge R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bergado-Acosta
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany; Center of Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany. Electronic address: markus.fendt@med.ovgu.de.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fendt
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000841:Anisomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D000069077:Memory Consolidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D057567:Memory, Long-Term / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D000841:Anisomycin
keywords: Anisomycin; Associative learning; Memory consolidation; Rats; Startle response