scholarly journals A Low-Cost Analytical Method for the Morris Water Maze Task using ImageJ

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 1194-1199
Author(s):  
Apsorn SATTAYAKHOM ◽  
Phanit KOOMHIN
Keyword(s):  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Morris Water Maze ◽  
Water Maze ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Maze Task ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Morris Water Maze Task ◽  
Learning And Memory Deficit ◽  
Imagej Software

The Morris water maze, which has been used for more than 30 years, is one of the most famous learning and memory tasks among animals. This method is robust and reliable, and it can be carried out anywhere with little effort. Nowadays, there are many companies creating analysis software to easily analyze the Morris water maze results. However, these softwares are costly and may be difficult for researchers in developing countries especially with limited research funds. Only escape latency and time spent in the target quadrant can be manually obtained after video review. To resolve this problem and to extend the ability to detect learning and memory impairment in the Morris water maze, we provide a novel low-cost analysis method using common office tools combined with ImageJ software to analyze learning and memory impairment in rat or mouse models. In this study, we used the 2-vessel occlusion (2VO) rats and sham-operated control rats as learning and memory deficit rats and normal rats, respectively. Taken together, travel distance, swimming speed, and swimming traces can be acquired from this method, which will help researchers to investigate further impairment of learning and memory in animal models.

scholarly journals Effects of Non-Spatial Pre-Training on Learning and Memory Impairment Detection in the Morris Water Maze

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-177
Author(s):  
Phanit KOOMHIN ◽  
Apsorn SATTAYAKHOM ◽  
Sarawoot PALIPOCH ◽  
Chuchard PUNSAWAD ◽  
Sompol TAPECHUM
Keyword(s):  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Morris Water Maze ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Water Maze ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Memory Deficit ◽  
Learning Ability ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Training Strategy ◽  
Learning And Memory Deficit

One of the most popular learning and memory tests is the Morris water maze. The Morris water maze is a circular pool filled with water with a hidden platform under the water surface. The test is appropriate for rodents, especially rats and mice. The testing protocol comprises 2 parts that evaluate learning ability and memory retention. When animals are placed in the pool, they experience stress, which is the driving force for discovery of a strategy to leave the water. In the experiment, animals use environmental cues to find the location of the hidden platform in the pool. After consecutive training days, animals can more quickly locate the hidden platform. The last day of the task involves a memory test without the platform. It shows a limitation of the test in mild learning and memory deficit models such as 2-vessel occlusion. Differences between the normal and memory impairment models are expressed only in a narrow range. So, we tried to modify the original protocol for mild learning and memory impairment models. We used an albino rat strain for the experiment. A pre-training strategy of 3 days of swimming in the pool with a visible platform prior to the ordinary task was used. The results suggest that this pre-training strategy improved learning and memory in the rat model. When compared to normal rats and 2-vessel occlusion rats (a rat model for vascular dementia), those that participated in the pre-training strategy showed an increase in the percent difference of area under the curve for learning trials. In conclusion, the pre-training strategy increases ability to discriminate learning and memory impairment in the rat model, especially for the mild learning and memory deficit models.

Impaired spatial learning by vasoactive intestinal peptide in Morris water maze task in the rat

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinji Itoh ◽  
Akira Takashima ◽  
Taketoshi Morimoto
Keyword(s):  
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ◽  
Morris Water Maze ◽  
Spatial Learning ◽  
Water Maze ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Intracerebroventricular Administration ◽  
Water Pool ◽  
Maze Task ◽  
Water Maze Task ◽  
Morris Water Maze Task

Intracerebroventricular administration of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) disturbed the learning by rats of the location of a platform submerged in a water pool. When the platform was removed from the pool, VIP injection produced marked impairment of the ability to find a previously learned location in the pool. This spatial memory impairment caused by VIP was restored by peripheral pre-administration of cerulein.Key words: vasoactive intestinal peptide, cerulein, Morris water maze task, memory, learning.

scholarly journals Cognitive-Enhancing Effect ofAronia melanocarpaExtract against Memory Impairment Induced by Scopolamine in Mice

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyeon Yong Lee ◽  
Jin Bae Weon ◽  
Youn Sik Jung ◽  
Nam Young Kim ◽  
Myong Ki Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Passive Avoidance ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Morris Water Maze ◽  
Water Maze ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Ache Activity ◽  
Antioxidant Effect ◽  
Enhancing Effect ◽  
Aronia Melanocarpa ◽  
Avoidance Tests

Aronia melanocarpa(A. melanocarpa)berriesare a fruit with a marked antioxidant effect. The objective of this study was to confirm the effect ofA. melanocarpa berriesextract against scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice using the Morris water maze and passive avoidance test. Moreover, we determined a possible mechanism of the cognitive-enhancing effect involving AChE activity and BDNF and p-CREB expression in the hippocampus of mice.A. melanocarpa berriesextract attenuated the learning and memory impairment induced by scopolamine in the Morris water maze (79.3 ± 0.8 s of 200 mg/kg and 64.4 ± 10.7 s of 400 mg/kg on day 4) and passive avoidance tests (46.0 ± 41.1 s of 200 mg/kg and 25.6 ± 18.7 s of 400 mg/kg).A. melanocarpa berriesextract reduced the acetylcholinesterase level in the hippocampus of scopolamine-injected mice and increased BDNF and p-CREB expression in the hippocampus. The major compound, cyanidin-3-O-galactoside, also reversed memory impairment. These results showed thatA. melanocarpa berriesextract improved memory impairment by inhibiting AChE and increasing BDNF and p-CREB expression, and cyanidin-3-O-galactoside may be responsible for the effect ofA. melanocarpa berriesextract.

Soybean Isoflavones Influences Learning and Memory and Caspase-3 Levels in the Hippocampus of Rats after MWM Test

2013 ◽  
Vol 411-414 ◽  
pp. 3178-3180
Author(s):  
Li Hai Jin ◽  
Xing Yu Zhao ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Guo Qing Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Morris Water Maze ◽  
Water Maze ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Morris Water Maze Test ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Soybean Isoflavones ◽  
Maze Test ◽  
Intermediate Dose

We assessed the effectiveness and mechanism of action of Soybean Isoflavones on learning and memory and Caspase-3 levels in the hippocampus of rats after Morris water maze (MWM test). Soybean Isoflavones (200,400 or 800 mg/kg/d) were administered by intragavage once daily for 14 consecutive days. The Morris water maze test was used to evaluate the ability of Soybean Isoflavones to increase learning and memory impairment. The levels of Caspase-3 in hippocampus of rats were detected by Westernblot after MWM test. Compared to untreated controls (P<0.01), MWM could be prolonged after Soybean Isoflavones treatment (P<0.05 for="" low="" and="" intermediate="" dose="" groups="" westernblot="" analysis="" showed="" that="" the="" protein="" expression="" of="" caspase-3="" was="" decreased="" in="" different="" concentration="" soybean="" isoflavones="" i="">P<0.05 and="" i="">P<0.01, respectively). The results suggest that Soybean Isoflavones is effective in improving the learning and memory in rats , the mechanism of which may be related Caspase ways.

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