Overview

The purpose of this study is to localize the expression of N-myc in the rat hippocampus following Morris water maze training. Training consisted of three 5-trial blocks. During the first four trials of each block, a platform was hidden 3 cm beneath opaque water. The rats were placed in the pool at randomly predetermined starting points (N, S, E, or W) and allowed 60 seconds to locate the platform. The platform was removed on the fifth trial and served as the probe trial. Control rats did not have a platform in the pool at anytime during the trials, and were yoked to an experimental rat in latency time and starting points. Spatial learning in the experimental group was demonstrated by a significant increase in time spent in the quadrant that normally contained the hidden platform when compared to the control group during the probe trial. Rats were sacrificed immediately following training and brains were immersed in chilled methyl butane and stored at -80C. Nine-mum sections throughout the hippocampus were acquired using a cryostat and mounted on nuclease-free silanated slides. In situ hybridization was performed on the tissue using a radioprobe against the N-myc gene and exposed to autoradiographic film. N-myc expression was quantified using an MCID densitometry system. Analysis revealed that experimental animals had higher expression of N-myc in the in the CA3 region and hilar region of the hippocampus when compared to the control group. These data indicate that acquisition of spatial learning alters N-myc expression in a region-specific manner in the rat hippocampus.

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9781243015396

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