Expression of Fos and Jun proteins following passive avoidance training in the day-old chick

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Molecular Biology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun mRNA are induced in the chick forebrain after passive avoidance training.
• This study investigates the protein expression of Fos and Jun in relation to memory consolidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the protein expression of Fos and Jun in the chick forebrain after one-trial passive avoidance learning.
• To determine the role of these proteins in the consolidation of passive avoidance memory.

Main Methods:

• Western blotting was used to detect Fos and Jun proteins.
• Immunohistochemical staining identified Fos-positive and Jun-positive nuclei in specific brain regions.
• Comparison between chicks trained with a bitter bead and control chicks with a water-coated bead.

Main Results:

• Fos protein levels increased in the right and left intermediate medial hyperstriatum ventrale (IMHV) and lobus parolfactorius (LPO) of trained chicks.
• Jun protein levels were significantly elevated in the right LPO of trained chicks.
• No significant increase in Fos or Jun protein was observed in other forebrain regions.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates increased Fos and Jun protein expression in specific forebrain areas following passive avoidance learning in 1-day-old chicks.
• These findings support the involvement of Fos and Jun proteins in the molecular cascade of passive avoidance memory consolidation.