microRNAs Modulate Spatial Memory in the Hippocampus and in the Ventral Striatum in a Region-Specific Manner

• Published in: Molecular neurobiology Vol. 53; no. 7; pp. 4618 - 4630
• Main Authors: Capitano, F., Camon, J., Ferretti, V., Licursi, V., De Vito, F., Rinaldi, A., Vincenti, S., Mannironi, C., Fragapane, P., Bozzoni, I., Oliverio, A., Negri, R., Presutti, C., Mele, Andrea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.09.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain research; Cell Biology; Gene expression; Hippocampus - metabolism; Male; Mice; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - biosynthesis; Neurobiology; Neurology; Neurosciences; Spatial Behavior - physiology; Spatial Memory - physiology; Transcription factors; Ventral Striatum - metabolism; Nucleus accumbens; Mice; Morris water maze; miR-24; miR-324-5p
• ISSN: 0893-7648; 1559-1182
• DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9398-5

MicroRNAs are endogenous, noncoding RNAs crucial for the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Their role in spatial memory formation, however, is poorly explored. In this study, we analyzed learning-induced microRNA expression in the hippocampus and in the ventral striatum. Among miRNAs specifically downregulated by spatial training, we focused on the hippocampus-specific miR-324-5p and the ventral striatum-specific miR-24. In vivo overexpression of the two miRNAs demonstrated that miR-324-5p is able to impair memory if administered in the hippocampus but not in the ventral striatum, while the opposite is true for miR-24. Overall, these findings demonstrate a causal relationship between miRNA expression changes and spatial memory formation. Furthermore, they provide support for a regional dissociation in the post-transcriptional processes underlying spatial memory in the two brain structures analyzed.