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Extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation is required for consolidation and reconsolidation of memory at an early stage of ontogenesis

Languille, Solène ; Davis, Sabrina ; Richer, Paulette ; Alcacer, Cristina LU ; Laroche, Serge and Hars, Bernard (2009) In European Journal of Neuroscience 30(10). p.1923-1930
Abstract

The ability to form long-term memories exists very early during ontogeny; however, the properties of early memory processes, brain structures involved and underlying cellular mechanisms are poorly defined. Here, we examine the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK signaling cascade, which is crucial for adult memory, in the consolidation and reconsolidation of an early memory using a conditioned taste aversion paradigm in 3-day-old rat pups. We show that intraperitoneal injection of SL327, the upstream mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor, impairs both consolidation and reconsolidation of early memory, leaving short-term memory after acquisition and after... (More)

The ability to form long-term memories exists very early during ontogeny; however, the properties of early memory processes, brain structures involved and underlying cellular mechanisms are poorly defined. Here, we examine the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK signaling cascade, which is crucial for adult memory, in the consolidation and reconsolidation of an early memory using a conditioned taste aversion paradigm in 3-day-old rat pups. We show that intraperitoneal injection of SL327, the upstream mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor, impairs both consolidation and reconsolidation of early memory, leaving short-term memory after acquisition and after reactivation intact. The amnesic effect of SL327 diminishes with increasing delays after acquisition and reactivation. Biochemical analyses revealed ERK hyperphosphorylation in the amygdala but not the hippocampus following acquisition, suggesting functional activation of the amygdala as early as post-natal day 3, although there was no clear evidence for amygdalar ERK activation after reactivation. These results indicate that, despite an immature brain, the basic properties of memory and at least some of the molecular mechanisms and brain structures implicated in aversion memory share a number of similarities with the adult and emerge very early during ontogeny.

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author
; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Amygdala, Aversive conditioning, Memory formation, Mitogen-activated protein kinase, Neonatal rat
in
European Journal of Neuroscience
volume
30
issue
10
pages
8 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:70449732196
  • pmid:19895565
ISSN
0953-816X
DOI
10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06971.x
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
a3a9e931-fe73-4747-925e-10c7a31d0381
date added to LUP
2017-02-14 16:27:31
date last changed
2024-01-28 11:42:17
@article{a3a9e931-fe73-4747-925e-10c7a31d0381,
  abstract     = {{<p>The ability to form long-term memories exists very early during ontogeny; however, the properties of early memory processes, brain structures involved and underlying cellular mechanisms are poorly defined. Here, we examine the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK signaling cascade, which is crucial for adult memory, in the consolidation and reconsolidation of an early memory using a conditioned taste aversion paradigm in 3-day-old rat pups. We show that intraperitoneal injection of SL327, the upstream mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor, impairs both consolidation and reconsolidation of early memory, leaving short-term memory after acquisition and after reactivation intact. The amnesic effect of SL327 diminishes with increasing delays after acquisition and reactivation. Biochemical analyses revealed ERK hyperphosphorylation in the amygdala but not the hippocampus following acquisition, suggesting functional activation of the amygdala as early as post-natal day 3, although there was no clear evidence for amygdalar ERK activation after reactivation. These results indicate that, despite an immature brain, the basic properties of memory and at least some of the molecular mechanisms and brain structures implicated in aversion memory share a number of similarities with the adult and emerge very early during ontogeny.</p>}},
  author       = {{Languille, Solène and Davis, Sabrina and Richer, Paulette and Alcacer, Cristina and Laroche, Serge and Hars, Bernard}},
  issn         = {{0953-816X}},
  keywords     = {{Amygdala; Aversive conditioning; Memory formation; Mitogen-activated protein kinase; Neonatal rat}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{10}},
  pages        = {{1923--1930}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Neuroscience}},
  title        = {{Extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation is required for consolidation and reconsolidation of memory at an early stage of ontogenesis}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06971.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06971.x}},
  volume       = {{30}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}