It was long believed within the scientific community that the adult brain was unable to generate new neurons. In the end of the 1990s the consensus changed and it is since believed that the adult brain can and does generate new neurons after birth, a process referred to as adult neurogenesis. Adult neurogenesis takes place in two places in the adult brain: the subventricular zone (SVZ) in close proximity to the olfactory bulb and the subgranular zone (SGZ) in the hippocampus. The level of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) can be upregulated and one part of the aim was to examine the effect of voluntary chronic aerobic exercise (VCAE) on AHN. It is clear that voluntary chronic aerobic exercise reliably increases AHN. Still, the function of these new brain cells is under debate. Spatial learning and memory are among the main abilities that have been focused on. The other part of the aim was to examine the effect of VCAE and AHN on spatial learning and memory. The reviewed literature suggests that both AHN and spatial learning and memory increase together from VCAE, although it does not show causation, that an increase of AHN from VCAE causally effects spatial learning and memory. More studies are needed to investigate if a causal relationship exists.

A neurogênese hipocampal é modulada por muitos fatores que incluem envelhecimento, estresse, enriquecimento ambiental, atividade física e aprendizado. Atividade física voluntária (espontânea) estimula a proliferação celular no giro denteado e facilita a aquisição e/ou retenção de tarefas dependentes do hipocampo, incluindo o Labirinto Aquático de Morris. Embora seja bem estabelecido que o exercício físico regular melhore o desempenho em tarefas de memória e aprendizado, não está claro qual a duração desses benefícios após o final da atividade física. Neste estudo investigamos a relação temporal entre os efeitos benéficos da atividade física associado ao aprendizado de tarefa dependente da função hipocampal, e sua relação com a neurogênese, levando em consideração também o tempo decorrido desde o término da atividade física. Grupos independentes de ratos tiveram acesso a roda de atividade ao longo de 7 dias (Grupo EXE) ou roda bloqueada (Grupo Ñ-EXE) e receberam injeções de BrdU nos últimos 3 dias de exposição roda. Após um INTERVALO de 1, 3 ou 6 semanas após o final da exposição a roda de atividade após o final da exposição a roda de atividade, os animais foram testados no labirinto aquático de Morris, sendo uma parte deles expostos a tarefa de memória operacional espacial, dependente da função hipocampal (H), e outra parte a uma tarefa de busca por uma plataforma visível, independente da função hipocampal (ÑH). Em ambos os casos, o intervalo entre as tentativas (ITI) foi de 10 minutos durante as sessões 1-6 e (virtualmente) zero minutos durante as sessões 7-10. Concluída a tarefa os cérebros foram processados para imuno-histoquímica. Foram feitas imunoistoquímicas para a detecção de Ki-67 (proliferação celular), BrdU, NeuN (para identificar neurónios maduros), e DCX (para identificar imaturo neurônios). Nossos dados suportam a ideia que atividade física voluntária induz um aumento na proliferação celular e na diferenciação neuronal (neurogênese) no giro denteado. A introdução de um período de intervalo entre o final do exercício e a execução da tarefa comportamental causa uma redução significativa na sobrevivência dos novos neurônios, como observado com 1 semana de intervalo em comparação com os animais testados com 6 semanas de intervalo. Em contraste, entretanto, o presente resultado não confirma que esse aumento da neurogênese é acompanhado por melhora na memória espacial, como avaliado por meio da versão que envolve memória operacional no labirinto aquático de Morris. O aprendizado da tarefa do labirinto aquático de Morris, na versão de memória operacional que é dependente do hipocampo, leva a um aumento da sobrevivência dos novos neurônios que foram produzidos no período de exercício, ao passo que o aprendizado da versão independente da tarefa leva a uma redução do número absoluto de novos neurônios / Hippocampal adult neurogenesis is modulated by many factors including age, stress, environmental enrichment, physical exercise and learning. Spontaneous exercise in a running wheel stimulates cell proliferation in the adult dentate gyrus and facilitates acquisition and/or retention of hippocampal-dependent tasks including the Morris water maze. While it is well established that regular physical exercise improves cognitive performance, it is unclear for how long these benefits last after its interruption. In this study, we investigate the temporal relation between exercise-induced benefits associated with learning of a hippocampal-dependent task, this relationship with neurogenesis, considering the time after exercise has ended. Independent groups of rats were given free access to either unlocked (EXE Group) or locked (No-EXE Group) running wheels for 7 days, having received daily injections of BrdU for the last 3 days. The animals were then transferred to standard home cages. After a time period of either 1, 3 or 6 weeks, the animals were tested in the Morris water maze, one of them being exposed to the spatial working memory task dependent on hippocampal function (H) and partly to a task search for a visible platform, independent of hippocampal function (NH). In both cases, the interval between trials (ITI) was 10 minutes during sessions and 1-6 and (virtually) zero minute during the sessions 7-10. After the task brains were processed for immunohistochemistry. Cell proliferation and net neurogenesis were assessed in hippocampal sections using antibodies against BrdU, NeuN (to identify mature neurons), and DCX (to identify immature neurons). Data of the present study confirm that exposure of rats to 7 days of spontaneous wheel running increases cell proliferation and neurogenesis. In contrast, however, the present results did not confirm that this neurogenesis is accompanied by a significant improvement in spatial learning, as evaluated using the working memory version of the Morris’ water maze task. The introduction of a delay period between the end of exercise and cognitive training on the Morris water maze reduces cell survival; the number of new neurons was higher in the EXE1 week delay group as compared to the EXE6 week delay. We showed that learning the Morris water maze in the working memory task dependent on hippocampal function (H) increases the new neurons survival, in contrast, learning hippocampal-independent version of the task decreases number of new neurons

Orientadores: Elenice Aparecida de Moraes Ferrari, Claudio Antonio Barbosa de Toledo / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T10:38:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva_MariaIsabel_M.pdf: 1381550 bytes, checksum: 9cb336aef794086ff363f071f8040818 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: O hipocampo exerce papel fundamental no processamento de aprendizagem e memória espaciais. Comparações das características funcionais, anatômicas e neuroquímicas do hipocampo são favorecidas por evidência oriunda de estudo sobre aprendizagem especial em mamíferos e aves. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a marcação imunohistoquímica de células nNOS- positivas no hipocampo de pombos (C. lívia) após diferentes duração do treino em aprendizagem especial. Foram analisados grupos de animais não treinados (MAN), treinados em 1 sessão (EXP1), treinados em 5 sessões (EXP5), exposto à arena em 1 sessão (CONT1) ou em 5 sessões (CONT5). As sessões foram realizadas numa arena onde havia quatro comedouros, um dos quais com alimento. Em cada sessão, com seis tentativas, registrou-se a latência (seg) e a assertividade da escolha de um comedouro. Após os testes comportamentais, usou-se imunoistoquímica para a análise da marcação de células nNOS-positiva no hipocampo dorsal e ventral. O grupo EXP5 teve diminuição da latência de escolha ('F IND. 4,28¿= 23,74; p < 0,001) e aumento das respostas corretas ('F IND. 4,35¿= 8,66; p < 0,001) em função do treino. A marcação das células nNOS-positivas no hipocampo foi significativamente maior no hipocampo dorsal dos animais EXP5 em comparação com o hipocampo ventral ('F IND. 4,22¿= 104,79; p<0,001) e com os demais grupos ('F IND. 4,22¿= 10,17; p < 0,001). O aumento da imunorratividade de células nNOS- positivas no hipocampo dorsal de pombos após a aprendizagem da localização do comedouro correto sugere o envolvimento desta região e de processos mediados pro transmissão glutamatérgica nesse processo de aprendizagem e memória em pombos / Abstract: The hippocampus has fundamental role in spatial learning and memory processes. Functional and neurochemical analysis of the hippocampus are favored by evidence on spatial learning in mammals and birds. The present study examined the immunohistochemical expression of nNOS-positive cells in the hippocampus of pigeons (C. livia) after training in food location task. Animals were trained in one (EXP1) or five (EXP5) sessions or had one (CONT1) or five sessions (CONT5) of exposure to the experimental arena. The six trials sessions were conducted daily in one arena with 4 food bowls, one of which had food. Latency and accuracy of choise recorded. After behavioral tests, nNOS immunoractivity in hippocampal cells was analyzed. EXP 5 showed reduction imunoreactivity in hippocampal cells was analysed. EXP5 showed reduction in latency of choise ('F IND. 4,28¿= 23,74; p < 0,001) and increassis in correct choise ('F IND. 4,35¿= 8,66; p < 0,001) as function of the training. The expression of nNOS- positive cells was significantily higher in the dorsal hippocampus of EXP5 group as compared with the ventral hippocampus ('F IND. 4,22¿= 104,79; p < 0,001) and the other groups ('F IND. 4,28¿= 10,17; p < 0,001). The increases of nNOS immunoreactive neurons after learning of the food location suggest that nNOS is involved in processes of spatial learning and memory that are mediated by the dorsal hippocampus of pigeons / Mestrado / Fisiologia / Mestre em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

This dissertation describes separate but related studies that explore visual spatial learning and memory in Fragile X Syndrome. Across all studies, either the performance of individuals affected by FXS and/or fmr1 KO mice was compared to comparison controls on seven H-W mazes of increasing difficulty levels. Study one employed the traditional configuration of the H-W mazes to evaluate performance variables that include latency to complete the maze and number of the errors. The results of study 1 revealed significant differences in performance for both FXS groups as compared to mental age-matched comparison individuals and wild type mice, respectively. In contrast to the FXS group, performance of the comparison group improved as indicated by significantly fewer errors across trials. A similar pattern of results was observed when latency across trials was analyzed. Taken together, the results of study one support the hypothesis that a selective deficit in spatial learning and memory characteristic of the FXS phenotype can be observed in the murine model of FXS, if equivalent tasks are employed in testing humans and mice. Study two expanded on these findings by adding landmarks to the maze environment to evaluate how these may impact spatial learning and memory in fmr1 KO mice. Contrary to our hypotheses, landmarks significantly impaired wild type control performance. In addition, results revealed that the performance of the fmr1 KO mice generally did not differ between landmark and non-landmark tasks, indicating that the presence of landmarks neither enhanced nor hindered mouse performance. Lastly, study three entailed a more in-depth behavior analysis of maze navigation performance for FXS individuals from study 1. Consistent with the hypotheses and findings from study 1, results revealed significant differences in performance variables between individuals, with FXS participants generally performing worse than the comparison group participants. Taken together, the results of study 3 generally supported the hypothesis that there was greater impairment in performance for individuals affected by FXS as compared to controls. This impairment was evident in the pattern of pathways taken to solve H-W mazes, consistent with the notion that affected individuals employed different behavioral strategies.

Spatial learning in rodents requires normal functioning of hippocampal and cortical structures. Recent data suggest that the cerebellum may also be esential. Neurological mutant mice with dysgenesis of the cerebellum provide useful models to examine the effects of abnormal cerebellar function. Mice with one such mutation, Purkinje cell degeneration (pcd), in which Purkinje cells degenerate between the third and fourth postnatal weeks, were evaluated for performance of spatial navigation learning and visual guidance learning in the Morris maze swim-escape task. Unaffected littermates and C57BL/6J mice served as controls. Separate groups of pcd and control mice were tested at 30, 50 and 110 days of age. At all ages, pcd mice had severe deficits in distal-cue (spatial) navigation, failing to decrease path lengths over training and failing to express appropriate spatial biases on probe trials. On the proximal-cue (visual guidance) task, whenever performance differences between groups did occur, they were limited to the initial trials. The ability of the pcd mice to perform the proximal-cue but not the distal-cue task indicates that the massive spatial navigation deficit was not due simply to motor dysfunction. Histological evaluations confirmed that the pcd mutation resulted in Purkinje cell loss without significant depletion of cells in the hippocampal formation. Teese data provide further evidence that the cerebellum is vital for the expression of behavior directed by spatial cognitive processes.

The goal of this thesis is to identify differences and consistencies in the trajectories taken by foraging agents before and after they have learned the location of a target. The challenge is that these agents do not go directly towards the target after learning and keep a certain amount of randomness in their paths. We use different versions of discrete curvature and head angle as tools in this analysis. We also build models of foraging agents using stochastic processes with data supported parameters.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The goal of this study was to examine age-related changes in spatial memory and its neurobiological substrates as assessed by the Morris water maze (MWM) and the Barnes maze. The MWM is one of the most widely used tests of spatial memory and numerous studies suggest that spatial memory abilities decline with age. To contrast, very few studies exist comparing different ages of mice in the less stressful Barnes maze, and no systematic life span analysis of performance has been published. As the cerebellum is one brain structure that undergoes a quantifiable change in anatomy across the life span (loss of Purkinje neurons), this study evaluated these behavioral tests in terms of sensitivity to both age-related changes in learning as well as age-related changes in the cerebellar cortex. A total of 65 CB6F1 mice were tested at one of five ages (4, 8, 12, 18, or 25 months) on the MWM and Barnes maze. Deficits in spatial memory acquisition were most apparent in both tasks when comparing a subset of good learning mice. Impairment began at 25 months in the MWM and 18 months in the Barnes maze. In all mice, retention was impaired at 25 months on the Barnes maze, but no clear retention deficits were found in the MWM. Unbiased stereology revealed an age-related loss in cerebellar cortical Purkinje neurons from 12-25 months, whereas hippocampus volume remained stable across the life span. Purkinje neuron number, but not hippocampus volume, was correlated with spatial learning in the Barnes maze, with impaired learning associated with lower neuron numbers. For the MWM, Purkinje neuron number was associated with performance in a subset of good learning animals. Overall, mice that learned the Barnes maze well had more Purkinje neurons than poor learners. Both tests were sensitive to heterogeneity in aging at each age tested. Comparisons of good and poor learners across the life span, as well as correlations between the two tasks and brain measures, suggested that the MWM and Barnes maze may be sensitive to different spatial learning abilities and mechanisms of aging. / Psychology