Optimization and validation of a modified radial-arm water maze protocol using a murine model of mild closed head traumatic brain injury.

摘要: Cognitive impairments can be a significant problem after traumatic brain injury (TBI), which affects millions worldwide each year. There is need for establish reproducible cognitive assays in rodents to better understand disease mechanisms and develop therapeutic interventions towards treating TBI-induced impairments. Our goal was validate standardize the radial arm water maze (RAWM) test as an assay screen caused by TBI. RAWM visuo-spatial learning test, originally designed use with rats, later adapted mice. The present study investigates whether procedures, such us presence of extra-maze cues influences memory performance. C57BL/6 mice were tested 8-arm using four-day protocol. We demonstrated that two days training, exposing visible platform, influenced Mice did not receive training performed poorer compared trained. To further our protocol, we used scopolamine. We, also, single mild closed head (CHI) deficits this task at weeks post-CHI. data supported 7 trials per day spaced protocol key factor unmask impairment following CHI. Here, provide detailed standard operating procedure applied variety mouse models including neurodegenerative diseases pathology, well when pharmacological approaches are used.