Influence of small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK,Kca2) on long-term memory: global and local analysis across time- and task- dependent measures

• Other Authors: Vick, Kyle A.
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Florida Atlantic University
• Subjects: Mice as laboratory animals; Cellular signal transduction; Memory > Research; Biological transport > Research; Potassium channels > Physiological effect
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/192991

Small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels are found ubiquitously throughout the brain and modulate the encoding of learning and memory. Systemic injection of 1-ethyl-2-benzimidalzolinoe (EBIO), a SK channel activator, impairs the encoding of novel object memory and locomotion but spares fear memory encoding in C57BL/6NHsd mice. The memory impairments discovered were not due to non-cognitive performance confounds such as ataxia, anxiety, attention or analgesia. Further investigation with intra-hippocampal application of EBIO revealed SK channels in dorsal CA1 contribute to the encoding deficits seen systemically, but do not account for the full extent of the impairment. Concentrated activation of dorsal CA1 SK channels do not influence fear memory encoding or locomotor impairments. Taken together, these data indicate SK channels, especially in the dorsal hippocampus, have a modulatory role on novel object memory encoding, but not retrieval; however, pharmacological activation of hippocampal SK channels does not appear to influence fear memory encoding. === by Kyle A. Vick, IV. === Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. === Includes bibliography. === Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.