Stable, long-term, spatial memory in young and aged rats achieved with a one day Morris water maze training protocol
- Ruth M. Barrientos,
- Meagan M. Kitt,
- Heather M. D'Angelo,
- Linda R. Watkins,
- Jerry W. Rudy and
- Steven F. Maier
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0345, USA
- Corresponding author: ruth.barrientos{at}colorado.edu
Abstract
Here, we present data demonstrating that a 1 d Morris water maze training protocol is effective at producing stable, long-term spatial memory in both young (3 mo old) and aged (24 mo old) F344xBN rats. Four trials in each of four sessions separated by a 2.5 h ISI produced robust selective search for the platform 1 and 4 d after training, in both age groups. A 1 h ISI protocol did not produce good retention. Also, compressing the trials into just two sessions separated by a 2.5 h ISI produced limited retention in only young rats.
Footnotes
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Article is online at http://www.learnmem.org/cgi/doi/10.1101/lm.043489.116.
- Received July 13, 2016.
- Accepted September 20, 2016.
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