Rewarded Maze Training Increases Approach Behavior in Rats Through Neurogenesis-Dependent Growth of Ventral Hippocampus-Prelimbic Circuits.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Learning complex navigation routes increases hippocampal volume in humans, but it is not clear whether this growth impacts behaviors outside the learning situation or what cellular mechanisms are involved.

Methods

We trained rats with pharmacogenetic suppression of adult neurogenesis and littermate controls in 3 mazes over 3 weeks and tested novelty approach behavior several days after maze exposure. We then measured hippocampus and prelimbic cortex volumes using magnetic resonance imaging and assessed neuronal and astrocyte morphology. Finally, we investigated the activation and behavioral role of the ventral CA1 (vCA1)-to-prelimbic pathway using immediate-early genes and DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs).

Results

Maze tr

SUBMITTER: Schoenfeld TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10593943 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature