Phosphorylation changes following weakly reinforced learning and ACTH-induced memory consolidation for a weak learning experience

• Published in: Brain research bulletin Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 161 - 168
• Main Authors: Zhao, Weiqin, Sedman, Garry, Gibbs, Marie, Ng, Kim.T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 1995; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: ACTH 1–24; Animals; Avoidance Learning - physiology; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Chickens; Cosyntropin - pharmacology; Day-old chicks; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GAP-43 Protein; GAP43; Hormones and behavior; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Memory - drug effects; Memory consolidation; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Passive avoidance learning; Peptide Fragments - pharmacology; Phosphoproteins - metabolism; Phosphorylation; Prosencephalon - metabolism; Protein phosphorylation; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Reinforcement; Reinforcement (Psychology); Memory consolidation; GAP43; Day-old chicks; ACTH 1–24; Reinforcement; Protein phosphorylation; Passive avoidance learning; Phosphorylation; Growth associated protein 43; Memory; ACTH; Learning; Vertebrata; Acquisition process; Consolidation; Adenohypophyseal hormone; Animal; Chicken; Aves
• ISSN: 0361-9230; 1873-2747
• DOI: 10.1016/0361-9230(94)00184-3

The formation of a protein synthesis-dependent long-term memory stage in day-old chicks trained on a passive discriminated avoidance task has been shown to occur only with an adequate level of reinforcement, and is preceded by a significant change in the phosphorylation state of the forebrain synaptosomal membrane protein GAP43 protein. In the present study, it is shown that weakly reinforced training did not lead to formation of a long-term memory stage or to any change in phosphate incorporation into forebrain P2M protein bands. However, administration of ACTH immediately posttraining led to both the formation of the long-term memory stage and a preceding significant increase in the phosphorylation of GAP43. These findings are consistent with the view that a reinforcement-dependent neurohormone-mediated change to the phosphorylation of this synaptosomal membrane protein may be implicated in the triggering of long-term memory consolidation.