Effects of nestin-antisense treatment in mice on memory-related performance

Nestin is a neuronal stem cell marker. It has been reported that newly generated adult neurons play a role in murine memory. The purpose of this study was to determine whether nestin itself plays a role in memory function in adult animals. Mice were infused intraventricularly with nestin-selective, morpholino-modified antisense oligodeoxynucleotides for 6 days, after which their ability to perform a new memory-related, food-search task was assessed. Such treatment was found to reduce the training effect on food-search test performance. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that nestin-positive cells within the hippocampal dentate gyrus and subventricular zone were attenuated in these animals. These data support a role for nestin in adult memory and learning.