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Aversive memory in sepsis survivor rats
Clarissa M Comim1, Larissa S Constantino, Fabricia Petronilho
1Laboratory of Neurosciences and National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Postgradute Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, 88806-000, Brazil.
Journal of Neural Transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)
|October 26, 2010
Summary
Sepsis survivors show impaired aversive memory and posttraumatic memory up to 30 days after infection. Cognitive function, including memory extinction, recovers by 60 days post-sepsis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Sepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by infection, significantly impacts the central nervous system.
- Cognitive deficits are common sequelae in sepsis survivors, but the underlying temporal dynamics of memory impairments remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of sepsis on different types of memory in a rat model.
- To evaluate aversive memory, posttraumatic memory, and memory of extinction following sepsis induced by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP).
Main Methods:
- Male Wistar rats underwent cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) or sham surgery, followed by antibiotic and fluid support for the sepsis group.
- Aversive memory was assessed using the inhibitory avoidance (IA) task at 10, 30, and 60 days post-CLP.
- Memory of extinction and posttraumatic memory were evaluated at 60 and 10 days post-CLP, respectively.
Main Results:
- Aversive memory was significantly impaired at 10 and 30 days after CLP, but recovered by 60 days.
- No deficits in aversive memory were observed after two training sessions, nor in memory of extinction at 60 days post-CLP.
- Significant impairment in posttraumatic memory was noted 10 days after CLP.
Conclusions:
- Sepsis induces transient cognitive deficits, specifically affecting aversive and posttraumatic memory in the early and subacute phases.
- Memory functions, including extinction, demonstrate recovery by 60 days post-sepsis, suggesting potential for neural resilience.
- These findings offer insights into the mechanisms underlying sepsis-associated cognitive dysfunction and recovery.
