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TrkB blockade in the hippocampus after training or retrieval impairs memory: protection from consolidation impairment by histone deacetylase inhibition

  • Translational Neurosciences - Original Article
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Abstract

Relatively little is known about the requirement of signaling initiated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor, tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), in the early phases of memory consolidation, as well as about its possible functional interactions with epigenetic mechanisms. Here we show that blocking TrkB in the dorsal hippocampus after learning or retrieval impairs retention of memory for inhibitory avoidance (IA). More importantly, the impairing effect of TrkB antagonism on consolidation was completely prevented by the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor sodium butyrate (NaB). Male Wistar rats were given an intrahippocampal infusion of saline (SAL) or NaB before training, followed by an infusion of either vehicle (VEH) or the selective TrkB antagonist ANA-12 immediately after training. In a second experiment, the infusions were administered before and after retrieval. ANA-12 after either training or retrieval produced a significant impairment in a subsequent memory retention test. Pretraining administration of NaB prevented the effect of ANA-12, although NaB given before retrieval did not alter the impairment resulting from TrkB blockade. The results indicate that inhibition of BDNF/TrkB in the hippocampus can hinder consolidation and reconsolidation of IA memory. However, TrkB activity is not required for consolidation in the presence of NaB, suggesting that a dysfunction in BDNF/TrkB signaling can be fully compensated by HDAC inhibition to allow hippocampal memory formation.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq; grant numbers 484185/2012-8 and 303276/2013-4 to R.R); PNPD CAPES/HCPA 0130110 (to R.R. and A.S.D.) and the HCPA institutional research fund (FIPE/HCPA; number 130381).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500 (ICBS, Campus Centro/UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil

    Martina Blank, Fernanda S. Petry, Martina Lichtenfels, Fernanda E. Valiati, Arethuza S. Dornelles & Rafael Roesler

  2. Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, 90035-003, Brazil

    Martina Blank, Fernanda S. Petry, Martina Lichtenfels, Fernanda E. Valiati, Arethuza S. Dornelles & Rafael Roesler

  3. Center for Molecular Structural Biology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brazil

    Martina Blank

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  1. Martina Blank
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Correspondence to Rafael Roesler.

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Blank, M., Petry, F.S., Lichtenfels, M. et al. TrkB blockade in the hippocampus after training or retrieval impairs memory: protection from consolidation impairment by histone deacetylase inhibition. J Neural Transm 123, 159–165 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-015-1464-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-015-1464-7

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