Inhibition of mRNA synthesis in the hippocampus impairs consolidation and reconsolidation of spatial memory

DASILVA WC, BONINI J, BEVILAQUA L, MEDINA JH, IZQUIERDO I, CAMMAROTA M

HIPPOCAMPUS

Año: 2008 vol. 18 p. 29 - 39

1050-9631

Using two different mRNA synthesis inhibitors, we show that blockade of hippocampal gene expression during restricted posttraining or postretrieval time windows hinders retention of long-term spatial memory for the Morris water maze task, without affecting short-term memory, nonspatial learning, or the functionality of the hippocampus. Our results indicate that spatial memory consolidation induces the activation of the hippocampal transcriptional machinery and suggest the existence of a gene expression-dependent reconsolidation process that operates in the dorsal hippocampus at the moment of retrieval to stabilize the reactivated mnemonic trace.