Identification of transmitter systems and learning tag molecules involved in behavioral tagging during memory formation

Diego Moncada, Fabricio Ballarini, María Cecilia Martinez, Julietta U. Frey, Haydee Viola

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

127 Scopus citations

Abstract

Long-term memory (LTM) consolidation requires the synthesis of plasticity-related proteins (PRPs). In addition, we have shown recently that LTM formation also requires the setting of a "learning tag" able to capture those PRPs. Weak training, which results only in short-term memory, can set a tag to use PRPs derived from a temporal-spatial closely related event to promote LTM formation. Here, we studied the involvement of glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and noradrenergic inputs on the setting of an inhibitory avoidance (IA) learning tag and the synthesis of PRPs. Rats explored an open field (PRP donor) followed by weak (tag inducer) or strong (tag inducer plus PRP donor) IA training. Throughout pharmacological interventions around open-field and/or IA sessions, we found that hippocampal dopamine D1/D5- and β-adrenergic receptors are specifically required to induce PRP synthesis. Moreover, activation of the glutamatergic NMDA receptors is required for setting the learning tags, and this machinery further required α-Ca 2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and PKA but not ERK1/2 activity. Together, the present findings emphasize an essential role of the induction of PRPs and learning tags for LTM formation. The existence of only the PRP or the tag was insufficient for stabilization of the mnemonic trace.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)12931-12936
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume108
Issue number31
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • CA1
  • Dentate gyrus
  • Synaptic tagging

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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