Mouse lines selected for difference in sensitivity to β-CCM also differ in memory processes

• Published in: Behavioural brain research Vol. 173; no. 2; pp. 282 - 287
• Main Authors: Venault, Patrice, Beracochea, Daniel, Valleau, Magalie, Joubert, Chantal, Chapouthier, Georges
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 16.10.2006; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animal; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Behavior pattern; Behavior, Animal; Behavioral neurogenetics; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Carbolines - pharmacology; Choice Behavior - drug effects; Convulsants - pharmacology; Discrimination Learning - drug effects; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Learning; Learning. Memory; Male; Maze Learning - drug effects; Memory; Memory - drug effects; Memory - physiology; Methyl-β-carboline-3-carboxylate; Mice; Miscellaneous; Pharmacogenetics; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Reaction Time - drug effects; Selected lines; Learning; Behavioral neurogenetics; Pharmacogenetics; Memory; Methyl-β-carboline-3-carboxylate; Selected lines; Behavior pattern; Rodentia; Artificial selection; Benzodiazepine receptor; Vertebrata; Sensitivity; Mammalia; Acquisition process; Mouse; Animal
• ISSN: 0166-4328; 1872-7549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2006.06.036

Methyl-β-carboline-3-carboxylate (or β-CCM) is a benzodiazepine receptor ligand with inverse agonist properties. Two strains of mice were selected, one for sensitivity (BS) and one for resistance (BR) to a convulsive dose of β-CCM. These two strains were then shown to differ in several biochemical, pharmacological and behavioral characteristics; specifically BS mice were less anxious than BR mice. The present work provides evidence of differences in the learning abilities of the two strains. Three different learning tasks were used: spatial delayed discrimination on the 4-hole board, a learned choice between a lit and a dark compartment in a T-maze, and place-learning in an 8-arm radial maze. In all three tasks, BS mice had consistently better performance levels than BR mice.