[Developmental caspase-3 activation in the rat hippocampus is involved in the maturation of instrumental behavior]

Full Abstract

Previously the developmental switch to caspase-3 activation in the rat hippocampus has been shown during the third week of life. The goal of this study was to explore effects of caspase-3 inhibition during this period on learning in a two-way avoidance paradigm. On postnatal day 18, the pups were intracerebroventricularly administered with caspase-3 inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK. Control groups were injected with either the control peptide Z-FA-FMK or saline. Caspase-3 inhibition, naturally activated in this critical period, was found to disturb the maturation of instrumental behavior. In particular, the young adult rats of Z-DEVD-FMK group displayed less effective elaboration of escape and active avoidance reactions in two-way avoidance paradigm, accompanied with a decrease in inter-trial crossings. However, associative components of the learning did not change after caspase-3 inhibition. Conditioned emotional behavior was, in general, similar in all groups, and the number of responses related to conditioned stimulus exploration did not differ in Z-DEVD-FMK and Z-FA-FMK groups. In spite of the deficit in active avoidance conditioning in Z-DEVD-FMK group, a significant increase in incomplete or preparatory reactions to conditioned stimulus was demonstrated suggesting that the association between predictive conditioned stimulus and possibility of crossing can be elaborated. The change of exploratory behavior is unlikely to be specific for caspase-3 inhibition, being similar in Z-DEVD-FMK and Z-FA-FMK groups.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Kudriashova, I V (IV); Stepanichev, M Iu (MIu); Guliaeva, N V (NV);

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: English Abstract; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Zhurnal vysshei nervnoi deiatelnosti imeni I P Pavlova (Zh Vyssh Nerv Deiat Im I P Pavlova), published in Russia (Federation). (Language: rus)

Reference: -2007 Nov-Dec; vol 57 (issue 6) : pp 702-11

Dates: Created 2008/07/02; Completed 2008/07/25;

PMID: 18592705, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Caspase 3 - antagonists & inhibitors; metabolism
Conditioning, Operant - drug effects; physiology
Enzyme Activation
Escape Reaction - drug effects; physiology
Female

Female
Hippocampus - enzymology; growth & development
Male
Oligopeptides - pharmacology
Rats
Rats, Wistar

Associated Chemicals: Oligopeptides (0) ; benzoylcarbonyl-aspartyl-glutamyl-valyl-aspartyl-fluoromethyl ketone (0) ; Casp3 protein, rat (EC 3.4.22.-) ; Caspase 3 (EC 3.4.22.-)

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.