Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 6, 2026

The Spatial Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition
05:15

The Spatial Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition

Published on: February 19, 2018

11.4K

Ouabain increases neuronal branching in hippocampus and improves spatial memory

Ana Maria Orellana1, Jacqueline Alves Leite1, Paula Fernanda Kinoshita1

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Science I University of São Paulo, Room 338, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1524, ICB I, Cidade Universitária, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP. Brazil.

Neuropharmacology
|August 13, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Ouabain (OUA) enhances brain plasticity and memory by activating key signaling pathways like Wnt/β-Catenin, CREB/BDNF, and NFκB in the hippocampus. This leads to improved memory and prevents memory loss.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Ouabain (OUA) interacts with Na, K-ATPase, influencing signaling pathways like NFκB and CREB.
  • These pathways regulate neuroprotection and memory via BDNF and WNT-β-catenin signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of OUA on signaling pathways crucial for hippocampal morphological plasticity and memory.
  • To determine OUA's impact on Wnt/β-Catenin, CREB/BDNF, and NFκB in adult rat hippocampus.

Main Methods:

  • Intrahippocampal injection of Ouabain (10 nM) in adult rats.
  • Analysis of key signaling pathway activation and molecular levels.
  • Assessment of hippocampal neuronal morphology and spatial memory performance.

Main Results:

  • Intrahippocampal OUA (10 nM) activated the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway.
  • OUA increased levels of CREB/BDNF and NFκB in the hippocampus.
  • Observed enhanced dendritic branching, improved spatial memory, and inhibited memory extinction.

Conclusions:

  • Ouabain modulates critical signaling pathways involved in memory and plasticity.
  • The study demonstrates OUA's potential to enhance memory formation and prevent extinction.
  • Findings suggest OUA's role in neuroprotection and cognitive function through hippocampal mechanisms.
Keywords:
BDNFDendritic branchingHippocampusOuabainReference memoryWnt

More Related Videos

Assessing Spatial Learning and Memory in Small Squamate Reptiles08:44

Assessing Spatial Learning and Memory in Small Squamate Reptiles

Published on: January 3, 2017

8.0K
Recording Spatially Restricted Oscillations in the Hippocampus of Behaving Mice07:10

Recording Spatially Restricted Oscillations in the Hippocampus of Behaving Mice

Published on: July 1, 2018

9.4K

Related Concept Videos

Role of Hippocampus in Memory01:19

Role of Hippocampus in Memory

The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...
1.6K
Increasing Function01:18

Increasing Function

An increasing function exhibits a rise in output values as input values increase. This behavior is depicted graphically as a curve or line that slopes upward from left to right. Such a function satisfies the condition that if x1 < x2, then f(x1) < f(x2), indicating that the function values grow with increasing inputs. This concept is fundamental in understanding growth trends across various domains, such as population dynamics, financial investments, or resource consumption.The...
397
System of Memory01:23

System of Memory

Memory is categorized into three major systems: sensory memory, short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM). These systems differ in their capacity and the duration for which they can hold information. Sensory memory captures raw sensory input from the environment, holding it for just a few seconds or less. For example, on hearing a brief, loud sound, like a car horn honking, the sound seems to linger in the mind for a moment even after it stops. This is an instance of sensory memory...
7.4K
Working Memory01:24

Working Memory

Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
902
Increased Body Temperature01:25

Increased Body Temperature

A body temperature above  38°C  (100.4 °F) is known as fever or pyrexia, and a person with fever is termed 'febrile.' Typically, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, regulates body temperature through a thermoregulatory setpoint. It receives signals from cold and warm thermal receptors throughout the body and adjusts the body's temperature accordingly. Fever occurs when this hypothalamic setpoint is altered, usually in...
7.5K
Increased pulse rate01:17

Increased pulse rate

Tachycardia is a condition marked by an abnormally fast or irregular heart rate, surpassing the typical resting rate. In adults, tachycardia is characterized by a pulse rate ranging from 100 to 180 beats per minute. The increased heart rate can result in inadequate blood flow to various body parts, ultimately diminishing the oxygen supply to organs and tissues.
Many factors can elevate the risk of developing tachycardia. These include advanced age, a family history of arrhythmias, and an...
1.2K