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Updated: Oct 27, 2025
Novel Object Recognition Test for the Investigation of Learning and Memory in Mice
Published on: August 30, 2017
The selective TAAR1 partial agonist RO5263397 promoted novelty recognition memory in mice
Ruyan Wu1,2, Jianfeng Liu1, Robert Seaman1
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University At Buffalo, The State University of New York, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA.
Rationale:
Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor that has a particular role in regulating dopaminergic, serotonergic, and glutamatergic transmission. TAAR1 agonists have shown pro-cognitive activities. However, it remains largely unknown of the effects of TAAR1 agonists on memory performance.
Objectives:
Here, by using the mice novel object recognition (NOR) test, we examined the effects of the selective TAAR1 partial agonist RO5263397 on recognition memory.
Results:
We found that RO5263397 significantly enhanced the retrieval of short-term memory (STM; 20 min after training) both in male and female mice. RO5263397 promoted the retrieval of STM in the wild-type (WT) littermates but not TAAR1-KO mice, indicating that the effects of RO5263397 were dependent on TAAR1. Interestingly, compared to their WT litters, TAAR1-KO mice showed similar levels of STM, suggesting that genetic deletion of taar1 gene did not affect the STM retrieval. Furthermore, RO5263397 also promoted the retrieval of long-term NOR memory (24 h after training).
Conclusions:
These results indicate that TAAR1 activation promotes NOR memory retrieval. Consistent with previous studies, our finding further suggests that TAAR1 agonists have pro-cognitive properties.
