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Passive avoidance training enhances cell proliferation in 1-day-old chicks.
C R Dermon1, B Zikopoulos, L Panagis
1Department of Biology, University of Crete, 71409, Greece.
The European Journal of Neuroscience
|October 31, 2002
Summary
Avoidance training in young chicks increases cell proliferation in brain regions associated with memory and olfaction. This study highlights how learning impacts neurogenesis in specific forebrain areas like the IMHV and TO.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Cell proliferation in the adult brain is a topic of ongoing research.
- The chick forebrain, particularly the intermediate and medial hyperstriatum ventrale (IMHV), is a well-established model for studying memory formation.
- The role of olfactory regions in learning and memory, especially in early development, requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of a one-trial passive avoidance learning experience on cell proliferation in the developing chick forebrain.
- To identify specific brain regions where learning-induced cell proliferation occurs.
- To determine if olfactory regions are involved in avoidance learning.
Main Methods:
- One-day-old domestic chicks were injected with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to label proliferating cells.
- Chicks underwent a one-trial passive avoidance task using methyl anthranilate (MeA) as the aversive stimulus.
- Cell proliferation was assessed 24 hours and 9 days post-BrdU injection using stereological analysis and double immunolabelling with neuronal markers.
Main Results:
- Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeled cells were found throughout the forebrain, predominantly near the ventricular zone (VZ).
- A significant increase in BrdU-labeled cells was observed in the dorsal VZ bordering the intermediate and medial hyperstriatum ventrale (IMHV) and the tuberculum olfactorium (TO) 24 hours after MeA training.
- By 9 days post-BrdU injection, MeA-trained birds showed significantly more BrdU-labeled cells in the IMHV, lobus parolfactorius (LPO), and TO compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- One-trial passive avoidance training in 1-day-old chicks significantly enhances cell proliferation in the lobus parolfactorius (LPO) and intermediate and medial hyperstriatum ventrale (IMHV), key areas for memory formation.
- The tuberculum olfactorium (TO), an olfactory region, also exhibits increased cell proliferation following avoidance learning, suggesting its involvement in this process.
- These findings demonstrate a clear link between avoidance learning and neurogenesis in specific forebrain regions of young chicks.