Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 6, 2026

The Use of Trace Eyeblink Classical Conditioning to Assess Hippocampal Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Published on: August 5, 2017
Changes in membrane properties of rat deep cerebellar nuclear projection neurons during acquisition of eyeblink
Desheng Wang1,2,3, Carrie A Smith-Bell4,2,3, Lauren B Burhans4,2,3
1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506; dswang@hsc.wvu.edu bschreurs@hsc.wvu.edu.
Abstract:
Previous studies have shown changes in membrane properties of neurons in rat deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) as a function of development, but due to technical difficulties in obtaining viable DCN slices from adult animals, it remains unclear whether there are learning-related alterations in the membrane properties of DCN neurons in adult rats. This study was designed to record from identified DCN cells in cerebellar slices from postnatal day 25-26 (P25-26) rats that had a relatively mature sensory nervous system and were able to acquire learning as a result of tone-shock eyeblink conditioning (EBC) and to document resulting changes in electrophysiological properties. After electromyographic electrode implantation at P21 and inoculation with a fluorescent pseudorabies virus (PRV-152) at P22-23, rats received either four sessions of paired delay EBC or unpaired stimulus presentations with a tone conditioned stimulus and a shock unconditioned stimulus or sat in the training chamber without stimulus presentations. Compared with rats given unpaired stimuli or no stimulus presentations, rats given paired EBC showed an increase in conditioned responses across sessions. Whole-cell recordings of both fluorescent and nonfluorescent DCN projection neurons showed that delay EBC induced significant changes in membrane properties of evoked DCN action potentials including a reduced after-hyperpolarization amplitude and shortened latency. Similar findings were obtained in hyperpolarization-induced rebound spikes of DCN neurons. In sum, delay EBC produced significant changes in the membrane properties of juvenile rat DCN projection neurons. These learning-specific changes in DCN excitability have not previously been reported in any species or task.
Related Concept Videos
Nuclear Export of mRNA
Fischer Projections
Nuclear Stability
To hold positively charged protons together...
Nuclear Fusion
A helium nucleus has a mass that is 0.7% less than that of four hydrogen nuclei; this lost mass is converted into energy during the fusion. This reaction produces about...
Properties of Transition Metals
Non-nuclear Inheritance

