Time-dependent expression of Arc and zif268 after acquisition of fear conditioning. Neural Plast 2010;2010:139891
Date
07/02/2010Pubmed ID
20592749Pubmed Central ID
PMC2877205DOI
10.1155/2010/139891Scopus ID
2-s2.0-77953531037 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 85 CitationsAbstract
Memory consolidation requires transcription and translation of new protein. Arc, an effector immediate early gene, and zif268, a regulatory transcription factor, have been implicated in synaptic plasticity underlying learning and memory. This study explored the temporal expression profiles of these proteins in the rat hippocampus following fear conditioning. We observed a time-dependent increase of Arc protein in the dorsal hippocampus 30-to-90-minute post training, returning to basal levels at 4 h. Zif268 protein levels, however, gradually increased at 30-minute post training before peaking in expression at 60 minute. The timing of hippocampal Arc and zif268 expression coincides with the critical period for protein synthesis-dependent memory consolidation following fear conditioning. However, the expression of Arc protein appears to be driven by context exploration, whereas, zif268 expression may be more specifically related to associative learning. These findings suggest that altered Arc and zif268 expression are related to neural plasticity during the formation of fear memory.
Author List
Lonergan ME, Gafford GM, Jarome TJ, Helmstetter FJAuthor
Fred Helmstetter PhD Professor in the Psychology / Neuroscience department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsBlotting, Western
Cytoskeletal Proteins
Early Growth Response Protein 1
Exploratory Behavior
Fear
Gene Expression Regulation
Hippocampus
Male
Memory
Nerve Tissue Proteins
Neuronal Plasticity
Rats
Rats, Long-Evans
Time Factors
Up-Regulation
