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Spatial Learning Responses to Lipopolysaccharide in Adult and Aged Rats.
Barbara J Kupferschmid1, Barbara A Therrien2
11 School of Nursing, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, MI, USA.
Biological Research for Nursing
|September 12, 2017
Summary
Sickness behaviors, including lethargy and reduced eating, are age-dependent and prolonged in aged rats after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. LPS impaired spatial learning and caused weight loss, with effects lasting longer in older animals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Sickness behaviors are adaptive immune responses impacting neuroendocrine systems.
- These responses, including cognitive deficits, are critical in the elderly and can lead to cognitive impairment.
- Spatial learning deficits, indicated by directional heading errors (DHEs), are part of sickness but require further study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the time course of age-dependent sickness responses and spatial learning deficits.
- To examine the impact of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on adult and aged rats.
- To analyze directional heading errors (DHEs) as a measure of spatial learning impairment.
Main Methods:
- Adult (5-6 months) and aged (22 months) male Brown-Norway rats were injected with LPS or saline.
- Animals underwent a 5-day Morris water maze trial followed by a 2-day retention test after 7 days.
- Weight, food intake, and directional heading errors (DHEs) were monitored.
Main Results:
- LPS induced significant, age-dependent weight loss and reduced food intake, more pronounced and persistent in aged rats.
- LPS-treated rats exhibited increased DHEs compared to controls, indicating spatial learning deficits.
- Consistent DHE improvement was observed by Day 4 in adult and Day 5 in aged rats; LPS did not affect probe or retention trials.
Conclusions:
- LPS-induced immune activation causes selective, age-dependent spatial learning impairments, decreased food intake, and weight loss.
- These sickness responses are prolonged in aged animals.
- The findings highlight the heightened vulnerability of aged individuals to infection-induced cognitive and physiological impairments.
