Effects of delay, intertrial interval, delay behavior and trimethyltin on spatial delayed response in rats

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Animal Models

Background:

• Working memory is crucial for cognitive function.
• Delayed response tasks are used to model working memory in animals.
• Trimethyltin (TMT) is a neurotoxicant that affects the central nervous system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model working memory in rats using a delayed response task.
• To investigate the effects of trimethyltin (TMT) on working memory performance.
• To examine the relationship between TMT-induced neurotoxicity and working memory deficits.

Main Methods:

• Rats performed a delayed response task with spatial location cues.
• Intertrial intervals (ITIs) and delay durations were manipulated.
• Trimethyltin (TMT) was administered intravenously.
• Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels were measured in the central nervous system (CNS).

Main Results:

• Working memory accuracy declined with increasing delay between sample and choice phases.
• Interference from previous trials impaired memory but not discrimination.
• TMT administration significantly reduced choice accuracy, particularly at longer delays.
• TMT treatment elevated CNS GFAP levels, which correlated with reduced working memory accuracy.

Conclusions:

• Working memory in rats is susceptible to delay and interference.
• TMT induces significant and lasting working memory deficits in rats.
• Elevated GFAP levels following TMT treatment are associated with impaired working memory, suggesting neuroinflammation plays a role.