Modeling of neurocognitive functions in rodents: two memory paradigms dependent on the hippocampus and the historical-scientific context of animal models in neurosciences
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22544/rcps.v44i01.09Keywords:
declarative memory, hippocampus, animal modelsAbstract
Historically, neuroscience began with behavioral and observational studies in humans. Subsequently, clinical studies in patients with neurological damage followed, and later, medical imaging of the brain provided evidence to understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying behavior and cognitive functions. However, much of the progress in neuroscience has been based on animal models. This work details the historical and scientific contexts that led to the development of some animal models within the field of neuroscience and exemplifies the usefulness and robustness of this research tool by visualizing two paradigms used to evaluate the same neurocognitive function. To this end, the results of the standardization of two hippocampus-dependent spatial memory models are reported, using two species of rodents: the Barnes maze, standardized with Wistar rats, and the Morris water maze, using C57bl/6 mice. In both paradigms, it is demonstrated that scopolamine, a potent anticholinergic agent that blocks muscarinic receptors in the hippocampus, disrupts the ability of both rodent species to memorize the location of the escape point of the respective labyrinths. Like the many animal models used in various areas of the biomedical sciences, these simple but robust neuroscience paradigms were standardized as a platform for the future exploration of potential drug therapies; in this case, the discovery of possible neuroprotective drugs against cognitive dysfunctions associated with the hippocampus, in particular, dementias such as Alzheimer's disease.References
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