Preliminary study of the effect of repeated motor training on spatial learning ability in adult lurcher mutant mice

Lurcher mutant mice represent a model of olivocerebellar degeneration. They suffer from cerebellar ataxia and deterioration of cognitive functions. The aim of the work was to study the effect of repetitive enforced motor training on spatial learning ability and motor coordination in adult Lurcher mutant mice of the C57BI strain. Experimental mice were trained repetitively on a rotarod. Control mice were left without the training. Motor coordination was tested four times-before the training, in the third week of the training, at the end of the training and after a spatial learning test following the training. A rotarod of higher cylinder diameter and lower rotation speed was used. Spatial learning was examined using the Morris water maze. Trained animals achieved significantly better results than untrained mice in the 2nd and 3rd motor coordination test. In the last test following the spatial learning examination, untrained mice improved their performances so that there were no differences between trained and untrained group. In the Morris water maze trained mice showed higher spatial learning ability than untrained animals. Motor coordination capability of adult Lurcher mutant mice was improved by the training on rotarod but also by swimming during the experiment in the water maze. Repetitive motor activity led to increase of spatial learning ability.