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Chronic multiple stress enhances learning and memory capability in rats

Liu Nengbao, Li Hui, Liu Xiangqian, Sun Chenyou, Cheng Shaorong, Zhang Minhai, Liu Shaochun, Wang Weixi

Department of Histology and Embryology of Anatomy, Tongji Medical School of Hua Zhong University of Science and Technology. Wuhan 430030, China

Abstract

The present study aimed at investigating the effects of chronic multiple stress on learning and memory functions of rats. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into stressed and control groups. Rats in the stressed group were irregularly and alternately exposed to the situation of vertical revolution, sleep deprivation, noise stimulation, and night illumination 6 h per day for 6 weeks to prepare a chronic multiple stressed model. Learning and memory performance of rats was measured by using Morris water maze first and Y-maze afterwards. Neurons in the dentate gyrus(DG), CA3 and CA1 regions of the hippocampus were stained by using Cresyl violet method and counted. The results showed that: (1) After chronic multiple stress, compared with the control rats, the escape latency to the hidden platform in Morris water maze was significantly shortened in stressed rats.

Key words: Chronic multiple stress;Learning and memory;Morris water maze;Y-maze hippocampus;

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Citing This Article：

Liu Nengbao, Li Hui, Liu Xiangqian, Sun Chenyou, Cheng Shaorong, Zhang Minhai, Liu Shaochun, Wang Weixi. Chronic multiple stress enhances learning and memory capability in rats. Acta Physiol Sin 2004; 56 (5): (in Chinese with English abstract).