Upregulation of the immediate early gene arc in the brains of rats exposed to environmental enrichment: implications for molecular plasticity.

摘要: Exposure to an enriched environment, a procedure that induces plasticity in the cerebral cortex, is associated with pronounced morphological changes, including higher density of dendritic spines, enlargement synaptic boutons, and other putative correlates altered neurotransmission. Recently, it has been demonstrated animals reared environment setting for 3 weeks have less neuronal damage as result seizures decreased rates spontaneous apoptosis. Even though clear modifications are observed cortex exposed heightened environmental complexity, molecular mechanisms underlie such yet be described. In present work, we investigated expression immediate early gene arc environment. Animals were daily, 1 h, total period weeks. Brains processed in-situ hybridization against mRNA. We found marked upregulation mRNA when compared undisturbed controls, effect was most cortical layers III V. additional control group handled 5 min displayed intermediate levels Furthermore, upregulated CA1, CA2 CA3 hippocampal subfields striatum, but lesser extent dentate gyrus two groups. Our results support association between plasticity-associated anatomical changes adult mammal.