Inhibition of Connexin43 Hemichannels Impairs Spatial Short-Term Memory without Affecting Spatial Working Memory

نویسندگان

  • Laura Walrave
  • Mathieu Vinken
  • Giulia Albertini
  • Dimitri De Bundel
  • Luc Leybaert
  • Ilse J. Smolders
چکیده

Astrocytes are active players in higher brain function as they can release gliotransmitters, which are essential for synaptic plasticity. Various mechanisms have been proposed for gliotransmission, including vesicular mechanisms as well as non-vesicular ones, for example by passive diffusion via connexin hemichannels (HCs). We here investigated whether interfering with connexin43 (Cx43) HCs influenced hippocampal spatial memory. We made use of the peptide Gap19 that blocks HCs but not gap junction channels and is specific for Cx43. To this end, we microinfused transactivator of transcription linked Gap19 (TAT-Gap19) into the brain ventricle of male NMRI mice and assessed spatial memory in a Y maze. We found that the in vivo blockade of Cx43 HCs did not affect the locomotor activity or spatial working memory in a spontaneous alternation Y maze task. Cx43 blockade did however significantly impair the spatial short-term memory in a delayed spontaneous alternation Y maze task. These results indicate that Cx43 HCs play a role in spatial short-term memory.

برای دانلود رایگان متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

The spatial learning and memory performance in methamphetamine–sensitized and withdrawn rats

Objective(s): There is controversial evidence about the effect of methamphetamine (METH) on spatial memory. We tested the time- dependent effects of METH on spatial short-term (working) and long-term (reference) memory in METH –sensitized and withdrawn rats in the Morris water maze. Materials and Methods: Rats were sensitized to METH (2 mg/kg, daily/5 days, SC). Rats were trained in water maze ...

متن کامل

Protective effect of Saffron extract on morphine–induced inhibition of spatial learning and memory in rat

Introduction: It has been reported that acute administration of morphine impairs learning and memory processes in rats. Furthermore, recent studies showed that Saffron extract improved ethanol-induced impairments of learning behaviors in mice, and also prevented ethanol-induced inhibition of hippocampal long-term potentiation. It can be postulated that there are some common mechanisms respon...

متن کامل

Effects of exercise on spatial memory deficits induced by nucleus basalis magnocellularis lesions

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that exercise enhances cognitive and functional capacities in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we investigated the effect of long-term (60 days) and short- term (10 days) exercise on the spatial memory deficits in an animal model of AD. Methods: Fifty male rats were divided into 5 groups 1) intact, 2) sham, 3) sham-Alzheimer 4) ...

متن کامل

Effect of cerebral administration of enalapril on spatial memory in scopolamine-induced amnesia in rats

  Numerous studies conducted in laboratory animals and humans indicate that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors reinforce memory and learning. In this paper we study the effect of injection of enalapril into the cerebral ventricles on spatial memory of white mice in the double- y maze, following the induction of an Alzheimer- like amnestic model with scopolamine. To estimate the duration o...

متن کامل

Ethanol impairs memory by reducing the synaptic connection of the hippocampal spatial neurons

Background and Objective: Ethanol has undesirable effects on memory and synaptic communication. However, its impact on the learned spatial memory is unclear. We investigated the damaging effects of ethanol on place neurons of rat’s hippocampal CA1.Materials and Methods: Sixty four male Wistar rats (250 g) were administered high (1-8 g/kg) or low (0.05-0.1 g/kg) doses of ethanol intraperit...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

عنوان ژورنال:

دوره 10  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2016