MORRIS WATER MAZE – A BENCH MARK TEST FOR LEARNING AND MEMORY DISORDERS IN ANIMAL MODELS: A REVIEW

The morris water maze (MWM) was developed by morris as a device to investigate spatial learning and memory in laboratory rats. MWM has become one of the most frequently used laboratory tools in behavioral neuroscience. The MWM task has been often used in the validation of rodent models for neurocognitive disorders (e.g., Parkinson, Alzheimer, Epilepsy, and Schizophrenia), and the evaluation of possible neurocognitive treatments. It is also being used to assess the properties of established potential antipsychotics in animal models of Schizophrenia. The MWM task requires rats to find a hidden platform in a large, circular pool of water that is colored opaque with powdered non-fat milk (or) non-toxic tempera paint where they must swim to the hidden platform. Because they are in the opaque water, the animals cannot see the platform and cannot rely on scent to find the escape route. Instead, they must rely on extra-maze cues. The behavior of rat can be evaluated by analyzing the different parameters such as escape latency, swim speed, and path length, and probe trail. The purpose of this review is to briefly describe procedural aspects, interpretational difficulties of data and advantages of MWM. This paradigm has become a benchmark test for learning and memory difficulties in animal models and preclinical research in general.

Download Full-text

An experimental procedure in behavioral neuroscience known as the Morris water maze is a method to assess the animals' ability of spatial learning and memory. In the experiment, test animals are placed in a pool filled with a pool of clouded water where t

Genes to Cells ◽

10.1111/gtc.12192 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 19 (11) ◽

pp. i-i

Keyword(s):

Learning And Memory ◽

Morris Water Maze ◽

Spatial Learning ◽

Water Maze ◽

Behavioral Neuroscience ◽

Spatial Learning And Memory ◽

Experimental Procedure

Download Full-text

Hyperthermia-Induced Febrile Seizures Have Moderate and Transient Effects on Spatial Learning in Immature Rats

Behavioural Neurology ◽

10.1155/2015/924303 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nawel Yagoubi ◽

Yosra Jomni ◽

Mohsen Sakly

Keyword(s):

Learning And Memory ◽

Morris Water Maze ◽

Spatial Learning ◽

Water Maze ◽

Febrile Seizures ◽

Hot Water ◽

Spatial Learning And Memory ◽

Transient Effects ◽

Hyperthermia Treatment ◽

Immature Rats

The aim of this study was to characterize a novel animal model hyperthermia-induced febrile seizure and to investigate the impacts of repetitive febrile seizures on spatial learning and memory performances in immature rats.Methods. Rats were subjected to hyperthermia exposure one, two, or three times in 10-day intervals during 30 min in a water bath warmed at 45–50°C and their behaviour was monitored. Morris water maze spatial learning and memory were examined for control and treated groups. Results showed that rats subjected to 30-minute hyperthermia hot water developed rapidly myoclonic jerks and then generalized seizures. After a single hyperthermia exposure, the time for generalised tonic-clonic seizures appearance was 16.08 ± 0.60 min and it decreased gradually with repetitive exposure to reach 12.46 ± 0.39 min by the third exposure. Febrile seizures altered the spatial learning and memory abilities in Morris water maze and increased the time spent to attain the platform after one or two exposures, while after a third exposure rats exhibited the same latency compared to controls. Similar results were obtained in probe test where rats, subjected to hyperthermia for one or two episodes, spent less time in the target quadrant compared to corresponding controls. Further, when platform was moved from northwest to southwest quadrant, memory transfer test indicated that after one or two hyperthermia exposures cognitive performances were slightly altered, while after a third exposure the latency to escape increased significantly compared to untreated group. It was concluded that 30 min of hyperthermia hot water was sufficient to induce febrile seizures in immature rats and an increase of susceptibility was observed with repetitive hyperthermia exposure. Hyperthermia treatment impaired cognitive performances but the effects were mostly transient and moderate.

Download Full-text

Ganglioside GQ1b improves spatial learning and memory of rats as measured by the Y-maze and the Morris water maze tests

Neuroscience Letters ◽

10.1016/j.neulet.2008.05.020 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 439 (2) ◽

pp. 220-225 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Woo Ram Jung ◽

Hong Gi Kim ◽

Kil Lyong Kim

Keyword(s):

Learning And Memory ◽

Morris Water Maze ◽

Spatial Learning ◽

Water Maze ◽

Spatial Learning And Memory ◽

Y Maze

Download Full-text

Novel gamma-aminobutyric acid reuptake inhibitor improves spatial learning and memory in Morris water maze and radial arm water maze tests

Pharmacological Reports ◽

10.1016/j.pharep.2015.06.042 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 67 ◽

pp. 13

Author(s):

Adrian Podkowa ◽

Kinga Sałat ◽

Anna Furgała ◽

Szczepan Mogilski ◽

Paula Zaręba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Learning And Memory ◽

Morris Water Maze ◽

Reuptake Inhibitor ◽

Spatial Learning ◽

Water Maze ◽

Aminobutyric Acid ◽

Spatial Learning And Memory ◽

Gamma Aminobutyric Acid

Download Full-text

Improvement of Electroacupuncture on APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice in Spatial Learning and Memory Probably due to Expression of Aβand LRP1 in Hippocampus

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2016/7603975 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Xin Wang ◽

Yanhuan Miao ◽

Jiawula Abulizi ◽

Fu Li ◽

Yuping Mo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Learning And Memory ◽

Morris Water Maze ◽

Normal Control ◽

Water Maze ◽

Normal Control Group ◽

Morris Water Maze Test ◽

Control Group ◽

Spatial Learning And Memory ◽

Model Group ◽

Amyloid A

Objectives. To explore the alterations ofβ-amyloid (Aβ) and low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) in APP/PS1 mice after electroacupuncture (EA) treatment and further to explore the mechanism.Methods. Forty 6-month-old APP/PS1 mice were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group, with twenty wild-type mice used as a normal control group. Mice in the EA group were treated with EA at GV 20 (băi huì) and bilateral KI 1 (yŏng quán) acupoints for 6 weeks. The Morris water maze was applied to assess the spatial memory in behavior. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), ELISA, Western blotting, and so forth were used to observe the expression of LRP1 and Aβ.Results. The Morris water maze test showed that, compared with the normal control group, the model group’s learning and memory capabilities were significantly decreased (P<0.05;P<0.01). The EA group was reversed (P<0.05;P<0.01). The hippocampal expression of Aβin the EA group was significantly decreased compared to the model group (P<0.01). The expression of LRP1 in the model group was significantly lower than that in the normal control group (P<0.01); the expression in the EA group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P<0.01).Conclusions. EA therapy can improve the learning and memory capabilities of APP/PS1 mice. The underlying mechanism may lie in the upregulation of an Aβtransport receptor and LRP1.

Download Full-text