Post on 17-Dec-2015
transcript
Summary of: Distinct Components of Spatial Learning Revealed by Prior
Training and NMDA Receptor Blockade
Presentation By:Carmine CicconeSpencer Jenkyns
Jared KunarBrooke MacKinnon
Malcolm Pilgrim
Overview
Four experiments to come to an accurate conclusion
What is Spatial Learning? How does the Hippocampus play a
role in spatial learning? What is an LTP? What role do NMDA receptors play in
LTP?
Brooke MacKinnon
Experiment 1Methods Lister rats had to complete a Morris
Water Maze test Rats were affixed with minipumps
and divided into two groups: AP5 and aCSF
One trial per day and could not complete transfer tests
Brooke MacKinnon
Experiment 1Results AP5 prevents learning ~20µM of AP5 required to block
NMDA receptors
Brooke MacKinnon
Experiment 2Method Rats were trained to complete a
Morris Water Maze task in a training room
Minipumps with either AP5 and aCSF were added to the test rats and control rats respectively
Rats were tested in a different room than they were trained
Malcolm Pilgrim
Experiment 2Results
Rats that received AP5 were still able to learn
Learning was slower than control group Both control and test rats always looked
into the same quadrants as they were trained
Malcolm Pilgrim
Experiment 2Conclusions Spatial pre-training ameliorated AP5
deficit The level of AP5 given was enough
for the prevention of LTP Was not solely a drug disruption
Malcolm Pilgrim
Experiment 3Method Three groups of rats were made:
Ibutenic acid lesioned group Sham surgery group Control group
Rats were trained in a separate room from where they were tested in
Malcolm Pilgrim
Experiment 3Results Lesioned induced deficit in escaped
latency and transferred test performance was apparent.
Malcolm Pilgrim
Experiment 3Conclusion Spatial learning is dependant of the
hippocampus in this task
Malcolm Pilgrim
Experiment 4Method Curtains were placed around the
Morris Water Maze to prevent the rats from using outside cues
Platform was placed in different locations within the water maze
Repetition of experiment 1
Carmine Ciccone
Experiment 4 Conclusion Non-spatial learning is not sufficient
to prevent the AP5 deficit.
Carmine Ciccone
Conclusions
Rats that were not pre-trained with AP5 showed no evidence of learning
Rats with non-spatial pre-training showed an intermediate amount of learning with AP5
Rats with spatial pre-training largely ameliorated the learning deficit
Carmine Ciccone
References
Title Slide Image: http://www.6seconds.org/images-static/neuron.jpg
All graphs taken from: Bannerman, D. M., Good, M. A., Butcher, S. P., Ramsay, M., & Morris, R. G. M. (1995). Distinct components of spatial learning revealed by prior training and NMDA receptor blockade. Nature, 378,182-186.