磁场对小鼠两种迷宫学习记忆的影响

据发现,磁场对生物体有一定作用,但是磁场对于人类或实验动物的学习记忆是否有影响,目前的报道结果很不一致本实验采用实验小白鼠,给予不同强度(65高斯/50Hz,35高斯/25Hz)的低频磁场照射(每天1小时,持续25天)。磁场照射后,采用旷场行为测试、Y-迷宫和Morris水迷宫,检测小鼠的活动性、空间辨别、空间学习记忆和非空间学习记忆能力。结果表明:65高斯/50Hz磁场显著增高小鼠的活动性,并损伤小鼠Y-迷宫的空间辨别能力,但对Morris水迷宫的空间、非空间学习记忆无明显影响。35高斯/25Hz磁场处理动物行为在三个指标上均接近对照组。提示:长期的磁场照射可能会给动物,甚至人类造成一些影响。

Effects of scopolamine on morphine-induced conditioned place preference in mice

It is well known that the cholinergic system plays a crucial role in learning and memory. Psychopharmacological studies in humans and animals have shown that a systemic cholinergic blockade may induce deficits in learning and memory. Accumulated studies h

Chronic morphine selectively impairs cued fear extinction in rats: Implications for anxiety disorders associated with opiate use

Previous studies have shown that opioid transmission plays an important role in learning and memory. However, little is known about the course of opiate-associated learning and memory deficits after cessation of chronic opiate use in a behavioral animal m

Pentylenetetrazole-induced status epilepticus following training does not impair expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference

Learning and memory play an important role in morphine addiction. Status epilepticus (SE) can impair the spatial and emotional learning and memory. However, little is known about the effects of SE on morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). Th

Detour behavior changes associated with prenatal morphine exposure in 11-day-old chicks

The central nervous system exhibits remarkable plasticity in early life. Prenatal morphine exposure may induce adverse behavioral effects on the neonate and the developing offspring. In the present study, we investigated the effect of prenatal morphine exposure (daily from embryonic days 12-16, 20 mg/kg) on 11-day-old chicks using two forms of spatial paradigms: one trial detour behavior task in which animals must bypass an obstacle to reach the desired goal without any training and detour learning task which required several trials of training to reach the detour criterion. The results showed that, on the condition that chicks could successfully detour in the first trial, morphine exposed chicks exhibited longer detour latency to finish the task, coupled by a preference for turning right versus turning left. In contrast, no significant difference in learning and memory was found in detour learning task between morphine exposed chicks and saline chicks. These findings suggest specific behavioral changes associated with prenatal exposure to opioids during mid to late gestation, also raise attention to the possible health hazard from pregnancy drug use in everyday life. (C) 2010 ISDN. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Irregular morphine administration affects the retention but not acquisition of conditioned place preference in rats

Drug addiction is increasingly viewed as the expression of abnormal associative learning following repeated exposures to the drugs of abuse Previous I studies have demonstrated that the patterns of repetition such as frequency and spacing are important to many kinds of learning and memory retention We hypothesized that drug repetition pattern might affect the reward-related learning although the total doses of the drug were the same. In the present study, we tested morphine-induced place preference following either regular or irregular pattern of morphine pairing in rats Regular morphine group received morphine administration daily at a regular time with the same dose Irregular morphine groups received morphine administration either at the same time but irregular doses, irregular time but same dose, or irregular time and irregular doses. We found that rats, who received irregular morphine pairing, exhibited similar acquisition of peace preference but different preference retentions compared with regular morphine-treated rats after the same total dose of morphine Rats, who received morphine administration at the same time but irregular doses and at irregular time and irregular doses, showed rapid disruption of place preference than the regular morphine group. Rats, who received morphine at irregular time but the same dose, showed similar retention of place preference to regular morphine group Our results suggest that the pattern of drug pairing plays an important role in the retention of reward-related memory This study may provide new evidence to broaden our understanding of the development and maintenance of drug craving (C) 2009 Elsevier B V. All rights reserved

Contingency awareness in human aversive conditioning involves the middle frontal gyrus.

In contrast to the wealth of data describing the neural mechanisms underlying classical conditioning, we know remarkably little about the mechanisms involved in acquisition of explicit contingency awareness. Subjects variably acquire contingency awareness in classical conditioning paradigms, in which they are able to describe the temporal relationship between a conditioned cue and its outcome. Previous studies have implicated the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in the acquisition of explicit knowledge, although their specific roles remain unclear. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to track the trial-by-trial acquisition of explicit knowledge in a concurrent trace and delay conditioning paradigm. We show that activity in bilateral middle frontal gyrus and parahippocampal gyrus correlates with the accuracy of explicit contingency awareness on each trial. In contrast, amygdala activation correlates with conditioned responses indexed by skin conductance responses (SCRs). These results demonstrate that brain regions known to be involved in other aspects of learning and memory also play a specific role, reflecting on each trial the acquisition and representation of contingency awareness.

应激和成瘾对海马突触可塑性及学习记忆的影响

海马突触可塑性是从细胞和分子水平上来阐述学习记忆机制，是学习记忆比 较直观的物质基础的一个体现。成瘾，是一种病态的、不可控制的吸食成瘾性药 物的行为，从某种角度来看，它也是一种记忆，通过篡夺正常生理神经通路产生 比正常生理反应强烈的可塑性，进而形成更有害的记忆。成瘾和学习记忆有很多 通路上甚至机制上的交叉，所以一部分研究学习记忆的方法可以用来研究成瘾。 应激，会影响正常的生理状态，并引发进一步的生化反应，进而影响到海马突触 可塑性和学习记忆。应激既然可以影响到学习记忆，而且成瘾的部分特征和学习 记忆又很相似，同时成瘾过程中基本上也伴随着应激，那么，应激在成瘾过程中 到底起着什么样的作用呢?它又是如何起作用的呢？ 本文的实验致力于回答其中的部分问题，我们通过对吗啡成瘾过程中海马的 突触可塑性和学习记忆的研究发现：单次急性吗啡处理会在非应激动物上诱导出 突触增强，但是应激可以逆转吗啡引起的突触增强，诱导出长时程的突触抑制， 但是皮质酮的拮抗剂RU38486 可以阻断这种效果。皮质酮和吗啡可以产生动物 延迟逃避的现象，说明应激在成瘾过程中的重要影响。本实验对于应激在成瘾方 面的影响进行了研究，进一步的揭开了应激在其中的部分作用机制，这对于以后 的成瘾的形成及复吸的治疗都有一定的贡献。

1. 大鼠海马-前额叶回路在学习记忆中的作用2. 芬克罗酮改善恒河猴空间工作记忆的谷氨酸机制

一、大鼠海马-前额叶回路在学习记忆中的作用 解剖学研究证实大鼠和猴的海马结构（hippocampal formation, HF；本文‘海马 (hippocampus, Hip)’一词即指海马结构）和前额叶 (prefrontal cortex, PFC) 之间存在一条单向、同侧和单突触的神经回路，即海马-前额叶回路（Hip-PFC回路）。Hip和PFC均参与学习记忆等多种认知功能，PFC是工作记忆的关键脑区，而Hip是空间参考记忆的关键脑区。虽然人们已经对PFC和Hip进行了广泛深入的研究，但对Hip-PFC回路参与哪些认知功能还知之甚少。本研究的目的就是通过暂时阻断Hip-PFC回路，探讨其在学习和记忆中的作用。 在大鼠，Hip-PFC回路中的纤维主要从Hip腹部 (ventral hippocampus, VH)发出，投射到PFC的前边缘皮质(prelimbic cortex, PLC)、下边缘皮质 (infralimbic cortex, ILC) 和外侧前额叶 (lateral prefrontal cortex) 等亚区，其中PLC是Hip-PFC主要投射的区域。我们通过给动物安装慢性导管向脑内注射GABAA受体激动剂muscimol (MU) 阻断Hip-PFC回路。注射位点包括 ①双侧PLC，②双侧VH，③一侧VH和对侧PLC (VH-PLC)。我们首先观察了在PLC或VH局部注射MU对自由活动大鼠PLC和VH脑电功率的影响，并以此确定在行为实验中所用蝇蕈醇的剂量。然后采用T-迷宫空间交互延缓作业 (spatial delayed alternation task) 测试Hip-PFC回路被阻断的动物的空间工作记忆功能；采用被动回避作业 (passive avoidance task) 测试其情绪相关记忆的能力（训练前给药；24 h后重测试）；采用Morris水迷宫作业 (Morris water maze task) 测试其空间参考记忆的能力（每天训练前给药；训练期（3 d）结束24 h后重测试）。结果表明：在大鼠PLC或VH局部注射0.5 μg/0.25μl MU后30 min显著抑制VH 和PLC的脑电功率 (VH, p < 0.01; PLC, p < 0.05 vs. PBS/baseline)。注射MU (0.5 μg/0.25μl) 到 ①双侧PLC、②双侧VH、③VH-PLC均显著降低动物在空间交互延缓作业 (All p < 0.001, vs. PBS) 和空间Morris水迷宫作业中的成绩 (All p < 0.05, vs. PBS)，表明Hip-PFC回路在空间工作记忆（空间短时记忆）和在空间参考记忆（空间长时记忆）中均起重要作用。在空间交互延缓作业中，双侧PLC被抑制的大鼠的成绩显著低于双侧VH或VH-PLC被抑制的动物，说明PFC在空间工作记忆功能中占有主导地位。在被动回避作业中，双侧VH被抑制动物的回避反应的潜伏期显著短于对照动物 (p < 0.05 vs. PBS)，说明双侧VH被抑制动物的情绪记忆受损；而双侧PLC或VH-PLC被抑制的动物其回避反应的潜伏期与对照动物无显著差异 (PLC, p > 0.9; VH-PLC, p > 0.3 vs. PBS)，表明双侧PLC或VH-PLC被抑制的动物情绪记忆正常。被动回避作业的结果说明VH参与情绪记忆的形成，但Hip-PFC回路在情绪记忆形成中不起重要作用。 以上结果表明，大鼠Hip-PFC回路参与空间工作记忆和空间参考记忆而不是情绪记忆功能。情绪记忆的关键脑结构是杏仁复合体 (amygdala complex, AMC)，VH与AMC有密切的纤维联系。VH被抑制的大鼠情绪记忆受损，说明情绪记忆可能与AMC-Hip回路有关。情绪记忆与空间记忆（参考记忆和工作记忆）在解剖上的分离说明，对于不同类型的记忆来说，其在脑内的信息加工过程是并行的。神经回路内部的信息加工过程则是串行的，回路上任何一个结构的破坏均可导致回路功能的损伤。本研究的结果为学习记忆的“多重记忆系统”理论和记忆信息加工的串行并行机制提供了新的实验证据。 二、芬克罗酮改善成年恒河猴空间工作记忆的谷氨酸机制 芬克罗酮是中科院昆明植物所郝小江等合成的取代吡咯烷酮类化合物。中科院昆明动物所蔡景霞等发现芬克罗酮能改善东莨菪碱、育亨宾等导致的多种动物的不同类型的学习记忆障碍，提高老年动物的学习记忆能力，尤其是老年猴的空间工作记忆。已证实芬克罗酮为部分钙激动剂，可使脑缺血沙土鼠脑内升高的谷氨酸降低，而使正常的沙土鼠海马胞外谷氨酸释放增加。那么芬克罗酮能否提高正常动物的学习记忆，其对正常动物学习记忆的提高是否与其增加谷氨酸的释放有关？本研究采用空间延缓反应作业和谷氨酸NMDA受体拮抗剂MK-801在正常成年猴恒河猴上探讨了以上问题。 结果表明，口服芬克罗酮可显著提高成年猴的空间工作记忆，其量效曲线呈倒‘U’形，符合许多促智药的量效特点。0.25 mg/kg和0.5 mg/kg为芬克罗酮的最佳有效剂量 (p < 0.05 vs. 安慰剂)。肌注MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg) 显著降低成年猴的空间工作记忆 (p < 0.01 vs. 安慰剂)，而口服2.0 mg/kg和4.0 mg/kg的芬克罗酮则显著改善MK-801导致的工作记忆障碍 (p < 0.05 vs. MK-801)。芬克罗酮的所有测试剂量不影响猴在作业中的反应时 (p > 0.05 vs. 安慰剂)，表明芬克罗酮在该剂量范围不影响动物的运动能力。 本研究结果提示，芬克罗酮可能通钙激动作用促进谷氨酸的释放，在一定剂量范围内提高胞外谷氨酸水平，提高正常动物的空间工作记忆等认知功能。 关键词：芬克罗酮，恒河猴，空间工作记忆，空间延缓反应作业，谷氨酸，MK-801

吗啡成瘾与学习记忆的关系及其相关脑机制的研究

药物成瘾是一种慢性、易复发的脑疾病，以强迫性的药物寻求行为和药物使用行为为特征。尽管人们关注成瘾已一个世纪有余，对其脑机制也有一定的了解，但至今为止，我们仍然不能彻底治愈这种危害人类健康的疾病。本论文的研究目的在于从学习记忆的角度去研究药物成瘾的脑机制，为我们进一步理解药物成瘾相关记忆的特点、寻找可能的治疗方法提供一定的实验依据。在本论文中，第一部分，我们对药物成瘾相关脑机制的研究情况进以综述。通过分别介绍有关药物成瘾的一些理论模型，进而从不同的角度解释有关成瘾的一些现象。但是，这些模型各有利弊，我们很难用一种模型去解释其所有的方面，这也充分说明成瘾是一种极其复杂的脑疾病。针对目前大家比较公认的学习记忆模型，我们进行了进一步的详细介绍，分别从参与药物成瘾的脑区和核团、神经环路、神经递质系统以及分子和细胞机制的角度对药物成瘾和学习记忆的相关性进行了总结。第二部分，我们介绍了我博士期间的一些研究工作，围绕药物成瘾的脑机制以及如何利用这些知识来设计方案去治疗成瘾。我们分别研究了药物相关记忆的形成，记忆的保持以及记忆的再巩固过程的特征，并利用这些特征来探讨治疗成瘾的可行性。在研究方法方面，我们利用药物相关记忆研究的行为学范式——条件化位置偏好模型，并结合药理学、脑区局部损伤等方法研究了药物相关记忆的特征；此外，我们用药理学、经颅直流电刺激的手段初步探讨治疗成瘾的方法可行性。通过以上研究，我们发现：吗啡相关记忆的产生过程需要体感皮层的参与，而记忆提取导致渴求的过程需要内感觉皮层的参与；吗啡使用的剂量和用药时间的规律性在吗啡相关记忆的保持强度和抗消退方面发挥着重要作用；吗啡相关记忆与其他的记忆，如空间记忆等不同，在提取之后用β肾上腺素受体的拮抗剂不能阻断其再巩固过程；用经颅电刺激的方法去失活药物成瘾相关的脑区，可以显著的降低吸烟被试的抽烟量。虽然我们的研究结果揭示了药物相关学习记忆的一些重要特征，并初步探讨了一些治疗成瘾的方法的可行性，但是，由于药物成瘾的复杂性，我们完全研究清楚其脑机制，并彻底治疗成瘾仍需大量的后续研究。

阿片和多巴胺，胆碱，谷氨酸神经递质在学习记忆中的作用

阿片，多巴胺、胆碱及谷氨酸神经递质系统在学习记忆中起着重要作用，且它们之间存在着相互关系，它们的功能失调和人类一些精神疾病密切相关。本论文分别探讨了这4类递质系统在学习记忆中的作用，并选用不同剂量的吗啡合并多巴胺受体激动剂和拮抗剂，胆碱拮抗剂，NMDA受体拮抗剂在小鼠和猕猴空间记忆任务中，检测阿片和这些神经递质系统之间的相互关系。结果发现：吗啡依赖于剂量和任务间隔地致使小鼠Y-迷宫空间识别记忆和猕猴工作记忆受损；海洛因依赖患者出现依赖性别和任务方向的地图/图标跟随和记忆认知障碍；多巴胺受体激动剂和拮抗剂对小鼠和猕猴的空间记忆有不同影响；胚胎期及成长期阻断多巴胺受体功能，可引起小鼠一系列学习记忆及活动性改变，撤药后是否逆转根据不同的抗精神病药物而不同；乙酰胆碱受体拮抗剂损伤小鼠和猕猴的空间记忆；NMDA受体拮抗剂氯胺酮可使小鼠空间记忆巩固过程受损，但不影响非空间记忆；MK-801损伤猕猴迷宫空间记忆再现，并降低2种延缓反应的工作记忆；当合并吗啡和其它神经递质药物时，可见吗啡和多巴胺受体激动剂和拮抗剂，乙酰胆碱受体拮抗剂，NMDA受体拮抗剂均有不同程度的相互作用，有关作用机制还有待进一步实验的探讨。了解阿片和其它神经递质系统相互作用的机制将有助于揭示药物成瘾的生化机理，寻找药物心理成瘾等神经精神疾病的治疗手段和策略。

1、吗啡成瘾及吗啡对其他学习记忆的影响 2、老年猕猴初级视觉皮层细胞时间及空间特性的改变

一、 药物滥用是一种慢性、复发性脑疾病。药物滥用将导致药物成瘾（addiction），其主要表现有药物依赖、药物耐受、药物敏感化以及药物停用后的戒断症状（withdraw symptom）。药物成瘾的核心特征是强迫性觅药和用药行为。药物成瘾会导致药物滥用者认知功能的损伤和认知偏差，并会造成滥用者情绪异常。药物成瘾是一个复杂的生物学过程，有着及其复杂的机理。对药物成瘾机制的解释有很多种，主要认为成瘾过程是一种学习记忆过程，学习记忆的机制在药物成瘾过程中起到了非常重要的作用。首先，学习记忆和药物成瘾过程都受到了相似的神经营养因子以及神经递质系统的调控，例如：它们都受cAMP，CREB等调控因子的调控。其次，研究发现与成瘾相关的线索，如用药有关的人物、地点或暗示等，在药物戒断很长时间后都会恢复吸毒者的用药行为。并且，当把与成瘾相关的线索呈现给毒品戒断中的人时，这些人会出现心率、呼吸加快，血压升高等现象，甚至表现出明显的渴求行为。药物对学习记忆的影响是复杂的，虽然重复使用药物会导致药物成瘾，并且这个过程需要学习记忆机制的参与，但同时使用吗啡却会对其他类型的学习记忆（如：恐惧性学习记忆、一次性被动回避学习记忆和水迷宫空间学习记忆）造成破坏。学习前给予吗啡可以剂量及状态依赖地破坏被动回避试验以及空间辨别试验的记忆获取过程。学习过程结束后立即给予吗啡可以破坏一次性被动回避试验、主动回避试验和恐惧条件化试验的记忆巩固过程。测试前给予吗啡可以破坏空间辨别试验的记忆提取过程。本研究的目的在于更进一步地了解使用吗啡导致吗啡成瘾以及使用吗啡导致学习记忆的各个阶段受损的机制。为此我们采用了药理学以及多种行为学的方法，1、用PTZ诱发的癫痫持续状态干扰吗啡成瘾的学习记忆过程，进一步比较了吗啡成瘾的学习记忆与其他学习记忆，例如：空间学习记忆以及食物奖赏学习记忆的机制有何异同；2、研究了β-肾上腺素系统与阿片系统在空间记忆巩固过程中的相互作用；3、我们还研究了NMDA受体的激动剂和拮抗剂在吗啡破坏空间记忆提取过程中的作用。研究结果发现： 1．戊四唑诱发的癫痫持续状态，对吗啡建立的条件化位置偏好没有任何影响，动物仍然对阳性箱（吗啡匹配箱）表现出明显的偏好。但是癫痫持续状态破坏了食物建立的条件化位置偏好，并且还破坏了水迷宫和Y迷宫检测的空间记忆。癫痫持续状态破坏了食物建立的条件化位置偏好，原因不是由于其影响了动物的食欲。此外，癫痫持续状态也没有持续地破坏动物的活动能力，因此，对动物活动量的影响也不是造成其他学习记忆破坏的原因。这些结果说明，吗啡成瘾的学习记忆和普通的学习记忆在机制上可能存在不同之处。为了说明这个问题，我们还需要进行其他更深入的研究。 2、训练后立即单独注射吗啡（0.25和2.5 mg/kg）或心得安（2，10和20 mg/kg）都不会破坏动物Y-迷宫空间记忆的巩固过程，动物仍然能识别新异环境，并在里面停留较长时间。但是，训练后同时注射吗啡和心得安却可以破坏动物空间记忆的巩固过程。并且，较高剂量的吗啡（2.5 mg/kg）加上较高剂量的心得安（10和20 mg/kg）对记忆的破坏更严重，实验组动物在新异环境停留的时间显著低于对照组。这说明阿片系统和去甲肾上腺素系统在破坏记忆巩固的过程中可能有协同作用。 3、记忆提取前30分钟注射吗啡（1和10 mg/kg）可以剂量依赖地破坏Y-迷宫空间记忆的提取。单独注射NMDA受体的激动剂NMDA（1，2和4 mg/kg）对动物的空间记忆提取没有影响，但是，单独注射NMDA受体拮抗剂MK-801（0.05，0.1和0.2 mg/kg）剂量依赖地破坏了空间记忆的提取。同时注射吗啡（10 mg/kg）和NMDA（2 mg/kg）可以阻断吗啡对空间记忆造成的破坏作用。相反，共同注射吗啡（1 mg/kg）和MK-801（0.05 mg/kg）可以加重吗啡对空间记忆造成的破坏作用。这说明谷氨酸系统可以干扰吗啡对记忆提取过程的影响。 二、衰老严重地影响了人们的视觉功能，然而眼睛光学系统的老年性改变并不能完全解释清楚这种视觉功能衰退。一般认为是神经系统的退化导致了这种老年性功能降低。但是，研究显示视网膜（retina）和外膝体（dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, dLGN）在衰老的过程中神经元的数量和体积以及神经元的功能特性，如对比度敏感性、空间分辨率等，都没有明显的变化，因此，人们推测老化导致的神经系统的变化发生在更高级的视觉皮层。过去几年的研究发现老年动物视觉皮层细胞发生了一系列反应特性的改变，如：老年动物皮层细胞的方向选择性和方位选择性降低以及细胞反应的潜伏期延长。这些细胞水平的变化被认为是老年性视觉功能衰退的神经机制。为了更全面地了解衰老过程对视觉皮层的影响以及细胞反应改变与整体功能降低之间的关系，本研究采用活体动物细胞外单位记录的方法，比较了青年和老年猕猴初级视觉皮层细胞时间反应特性和空间反应特性的差异。研究结果发现：老年动物初级视觉皮层细胞的时间频率和空间频率敏感性明显比年轻动物降低。表现为老年动物初级视觉皮层细胞的最优时间和空间频率、空间分辨率（spatial resolution, SR）和较高时间截至频率（high temporal frequency cut-off, TF50）都显著低于年轻动物初级视觉皮层细胞，同时伴随着这些功能的降低，老年动物初级视觉皮层细胞的自发放增加，对视觉刺激的反应增加，但是信噪比却显著降低。这些结果表明，老年动物初级视觉皮层细胞的功能在老化过程中都普遍降低。这可能是导致老年人视觉功能降低的原因。

细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶-cAMP反应元件结合蛋白信号通路在应激所致抑郁行为障碍中的作用

Stress is the most important factor in the vulnerability to depression and other behavioral disorders, but the mechanisms that stress signals are transferred into depression are far from understanding. To date, the neurotransmitters, neurotrophins and signal pathway have been concerned in the topic focusing on the pathophysiology of depression, but there are still many puzzles. Increasing evidence has indicated that the alteration in neuronal plasticity is the “trace” of stress-induced damages. The extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase(ERK)-cyclic-AMP-responsive element（CRE）-binding protein(CREB)signal pathway is a powerful intracellular signal transduction pathway participating in neuronal plasticity which is involved in higher brain cognitive functions such as learning and memory. However, so far, little is known about the role of the ERK-CREB signal pathway in response to stress and emotional modulations. Thus the aim of the study was to systematically investigate the role of the ERK-CEB signal pathway in depressive-like behaviors induced by stress. Depression animal models, antidepressant agent treatment and disruption of signal pathway in specific brain regions were applied. In the present study, three experiment sessions were designed to make sure whether the ERK-CREB signal pathway was indeed one of pathophysiological mechanisms of depressive-like behaviors induced by stress. In experiment one, two different stress animal models were applied, chronic forced swim stress and chronic empty water bottle stress. After stress, all animals were tested behaviorally using open-field, elevated-plus maze and saccharine preference test, and brain samples were processed for determination of ERK, P-ERK, CREB and P-CREB using western blot. The relationships between the proteins of ERK, P-ERK, CREB and P-CREB in the brain and the behavioral variables were also analyzed. In experiment two, rats were treated with antidepressant agent fluoxetine once a day for 21 consecutive days, then the brain levels of ERK, P-ERK, CREB and P-CREB was determined, the depressive-like behaviors were also examined. In experiment three, mitogen activated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor U0126 was administrated to inhabit the activation of ERK in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex respectively, then behavioral measurements and protein detection were conducted. The main results of the study were as the following: (1) Chronic forced swim stress induced animals to suffer depression and disrupted the ERK-CREB signal pathway in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. There were significant correlations between P-ERK2, P-CREB and multiple variables of depressive-like behaviors. (2) Chronic empty water bottle stress did not induce depressive-like behaviors. Such stress decreased the brain level of P-ERK2 in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, but the level of P-CREB in the hippocampus was increased. (3) The antidepressant agent fluoxetine relieved depressive-like behaviors and increased the activities of the ERK-CREB signal pathway in stressed animals. (4) Animals treated with U0126 injection into hippocampus showed decreased activities of the ERK-CREB signal pathway in the hippocampus, and suffered depression comorbid with anxiety. (5) Animals treated with U0126 injection into prefrontal cortex showed decreased activities of the ERK-CREB signal pathway in the prefrontal cortex, and exhibited depressive-like behaviors. In conclusion, The ERK-CREB signal pathway in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex was involved in stress responses and significantly correlated with depressive-like behaviors; The ERK-CREB signal pathway in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex participated in the mechanism that fluoxetine reversed stress-induced behavioral disorders, and might be the target pathway of the therapeutic action of antidepressants; The disruption of the ERK-CREB signal pathway in the hippocampus or prefrontal cortex led to depressive-like behaviors in animals, suggesting that disruption of ERK-CREB pathway in the hippocampus or prefrontal cortex was involved in the pathophysiology of depression, and might be at least one of the mechanisms of depression induced by stress.

鸡胚吗啡用药对学习记忆和成瘾易感性的影响及其受体机制

Prenatal morphine exposure affects neural development of fetus by impairing learning and memory, and increasing susceptibility to morphine abuse. Because nervous systems have different developmental characteristics during different developmental stages, administration of morphine at different stages also has different effects on learning, memory, and susceptibility to morphine. Due to the precise developmental processes of neurotransmitter systems in chick embryo’s brain, and unique superiority of chick embryo model, the purpose of the present studies was to explore critical periods correlated to the memory impairment and the increasing susceptibility to morphine, via one-trial passive avoidance and conditioned place preference as behavior models. Then the possible roles of mu and delta opioid receptors as the possible mechanism were analyzed. Experiment 1 showed that injecting low dose of morphine (1 mg/kg) during the period embryonic 5 to 8 significantly impaired the function of learning and memory, worse than any other periods of the same treatment. Experiment 2 showed that injecting low dose of morphine during the period embryonic 17 to 20 significantly increased the susceptibility to morphine in the new-born chicks. The affected chicks acquired the morphine conditioned place preference more quickly, and maintained it much longer. Experiment 3 showed that during E5-8, injecting delta receptor antagonist naltrindole reversed the learning and memory impairment caused by morphine while delta receptor agonist DPDPE impaired learning and partial memory function. On the other hand, mu opioid receptors had little effect. As for E17-20, given naloxonazine can reverse the increases of susceptibility to morphine, and the mu receptor agonist DAGO cause the increases of susceptibility to morphine. Delta receptors have no effect. The above results demonstrated that prenatal morphine expousure at different developmental periods of chick embryo caused different influences on memory and susceptibility to morphine. That is, E5-8 is the critical period correlate to memory impairment; and E17-20 is the critical period correlate to susceptibility to morphine. Delta receptors were critical in learning and memory impairment while mu receptors in susceptibility.