Learning Set Spatial Navigation Performance in Three Mouse Strains

Abstract

Swiss Webster (SW), Dilute Brown Agouti (DBA), and Deer Mice (DM) were tested for acquisition and retention of a learning set place task in the Morris water maze. The learning set consisted of daily placing the hidden platform sequentially at 1 of 4 separate locations in the pool. All animals swam for 63 days in this version of the water task. SW animals were unable to find the platform reliably. The time taken by DBA and DM animals in escaping the pool declined rapidly, reaching asymptote within 21 days. The DM animals reached the platform significantly faster than either SW or DBA mice. Analyses of swim path selection used by the 3 strains indicated clearly that DM mice were the most systematic in the selecting and sequencing from a variety of potential strategies the appropriate methods necessary for the most efficient solution of the problem. The present results suggest that in light of the differences between strains observed in swimming behaviors, investigation of strain differences in the neuroanatomic structures believed to be related to the solving of spatial problems might be useful.

Defective insulin signaling pathway and increased glycogen synthase kinase‐3 activity in the brain of diabetic mice: Parallels with Alzheimer's disease and correction by insulin

“…The Morris water maze task is currently the most frequently used test to evaluate spatial learning and memory abilities in rodents. However, Swiss Webster mice do not show learning behavior in the Morris water maze (Petrie, 1995). In addition, stress and cold can lead to increased protein phosphorylation, in particular phosphorylation of tau (Korneyev et al, 1995; Korneyev, 1998; Okawa et al, 2003).…”

“…Therefore, we used the Barnes maze (Barnes, 1979), which evaluates learning and memory without the water stress and swimming strength components of the Morris water maze task. Swiss Webster control mice showed evidence of both learning and memory in the Barnes maze, which contrasts with the Morris water maze (Petrie, 1995), whereas STZ‐diabetic mice demonstrated memory impairment as well as a reduced capacity to learn a new task, reflecting the diminished mental flexibility described in patients with type 1 diabetes (Brands et al, 2005). These deficits were not due to locomotor deficits as demonstrated by the accelerating rotarod.…”

Ο Ρόλος Του Χολινεργικού Συστήματος Στους Μηχανισμούς Πλαστικότητας Και Γήρανση Του Εγκεφάλου

“…Έχει δειχθεί ότι η οπτική ικανότητα παίζει ρόλο στον υδάτινο λαβύρινθο κατά Morris (Petrie, 1995, Thifault et al, 2002 και ότι η ηλικία επηρεάζει την οπτική ικανότητα (Lehmann et al, 2012). Αυτό σημαίνει ότι η οπτική οξύτητα μπορεί να επηρεάζει τα αποτελέσματα της οπτικής χωρικής μάθησης και μνήμης με αποτέλεσμα η χαμηλή επίδοση στον υδάτινο λαβύρινθο να οφείλεται σε οπτικό έλλειμμα και όχι σε μειονέκτημα μάθησης και μνήμης (Wong & Brown, 2007) καθώς έχουν αναφερθεί διαφορές με τη γήρανση σε αρουραίους και μύες στην απόκτηση και συγκράτηση της χωρικής μνήμης στη δοκιμασία της ορατής πλατφόρμας (Gerlai & Roder, 1996, Harrison et al, 2009.…”