›› 2009, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (7): 767-.

• Monographic report (Child healthcare) • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of forepaw sensorimotor deprivation in early life on spatial learning and memory in rats

ZHANG Yuan-yuan1, LI Fei2, CAO Xiao-hua3, JIN Xing-ming2, YAN Chong-huai1,  TIAN Ying1,4, SHEN Xiao-ming1   

  1. 1.Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200092, China；2. Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200127, China；3. Shanghai Institute of Brain Functional Genomics, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China；4. Department of Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, China
  • Received:2009-02-16 Online:2009-07-25 Published:2009-07-25
  • Supported by:

    National Natural Science Foundation of China, 30672272; Shanghai Science and Technology Committee Foundation, 05DJ14007

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Abstract:

Objective To explore the effects of forepaw sensorimotor deprivation in early life on hippocampus-dependent spatial reference learning and memory in rats. Methods Newborn SD rats were randomly assigned to experiment group (deprivation of forepaw sensorimotor function, n=53) and control group(n=55). Rats of postnatal day 13 (PN13) in experiment group were selected, and models of forepaw sensorimotor deprivation were established by microsurgical technique. Open field tests and Morris water maze tests were performed during the time periods of PN25(PN21-31),PN35(PN31-39),PN45(PN41-50) and PN60(PN56-64) to evaluate the locomotor activity and spatial reference learning and memory, respectively. Results In open field tests, there was no significant difference in parameters of locomotor activity and exploratory behavior between the two groups (P>0.05). In Morris water maze tests, control group performed significantly better than experiment group during training sessions and probe tests on PN25 and PN35 (P<0.05). While on PN45, although there was no significant difference between the two groups during training sessions, control group performed significantly better than experiment group during probe tests (P<0.05). Conclusion The deprivation of forepaw sensorimotor in early life has no significant effect on the locomotor activity and exploratory behavior of rats, but can impair the spatial reference learning and memory.

Key words: sensorimotor deprivation, hippocampus, Morris water maze, learning and memory

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