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Aniracetam improves contextual fear conditioning and increases hippocampal γ‐PKC activation in DBA/2J mice
Author(s) -
Smith Amy M.,
Wehner Jeanne M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
hippocampus
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.767
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1098-1063
pISSN - 1050-9631
DOI - 10.1002/hipo.10008
Subject(s) - protein kinase c , hippocampal formation , psychology , neuroscience , conditioning , chemistry , pharmacology , kinase , medicine , biochemistry , statistics , mathematics
DBA/2J (D2) mice display poor contextual learning and have less membrane‐bound hippocampal protein kinase C (PKC) compared with C57BL/6 (B6) mice. Aniracetam and oxiracetam were previously shown to improve contextual learning in D2 mice and increase PKC activity. This study investigated a possible mechanism for learning enhancement by examining the effects of aniracetam on contextual fear conditioning and activation of the γ isoform of PKC (γ‐PKC) in male D2 mice. In comparison to animals treated with vehicle only (10% 2‐hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin), mice treated with aniracetam (100 mg/kg) 30 min prior to fear conditioning training demonstrated significantly improved contextual learning when tested 30 min and 24 h after training. This corresponded with a significant increase in activated, membrane‐bound hippocampal γ‐PKC 30 min after training. No increase in learning or γ‐PKC was found 5 min after training. These results suggest an altered time course of activation of γ‐PKC in response to treatment with aniracetam, which improves learning in D2 mice. Hippocampus 2002;12:76–85. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.