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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Motor and Hippocampal Dependent Spatial Learning and Reference Memory Assessment in a Transgenic Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease with Stroke
Published on: March 22, 2016
Age-related acquisition deficits and activity in rats
O L Wolthuis1, D L Knook, V J Nickolson
1Medical Biological Laboratory TNO, 139, Lange Kleiweg, Rijswijk 2100 The Netherlands; Institute for Experimental Gerontology TNO, 151, Lange Kleiweg, Rijswijk 2100 The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Spontaneous motor activity and physically undemanding conditioned suppression of drinking behavior were assessed in rats of 3, 12, 18 or 30 months (M) age. Initial spontaneous motor activity of 12 M rats was as low as that of 30 M rats and both were significantly lower than that of 3 M rats. The performance of 3, 12 and 18 M rats were similar to each other, whereas 30 M rats started to perform poorer after one week of training. It is concluded that the acquisition deficits observed here in aged rats occur only after 18 months age and appear to be independent of the subjects' reactivity to punishment and their activity prior to training.
