Premium
Exchange protein activated by cyclic AMP 2 (Epac2) plays a specific and time‐limited role in memory retrieval
Author(s) -
Ostroveanu Anghelus,
van der Zee Eddy A.,
Eisel Ulrich L.M.,
Schmidt Martina,
Nijholt Ingrid M.
Publication year - 2010
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.20700
Subject(s) - memory consolidation , hippocampal formation , activator (genetics) , neuroscience , recall , cognition , impaired memory , hippocampus , psychology , chemistry , cognitive psychology , receptor , biochemistry
Knowledge on the molecular mechanisms involved in memory retrieval is limited due to the lack of tools to study this stage of the memory process. Here we report that exchange proteins activated by cAMP (Epac) play a surprisingly specific role in memory retrieval. Intrahippocampal injection of the Epac activator 8‐pCPT‐2′O‐Me‐cAMP was shown to improve fear memory retrieval in contextual fear conditioning whereas acquisition and consolidation were not affected. The retrieval enhancing effect of the Epac activator was even more prominent in the passive avoidance paradigm. Down‐regulation of Epac2 expression in the hippocampal CA1 area impaired fear memory retrieval when the memory test was performed 72 h after training, but not when tested after 17 days. Our data thus identify an important time‐limited role for hippocampal Epac2 signaling in cognition and opens new avenues to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying memory retrieval. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.