Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2025
Contextual and Cued Fear Conditioning Test Using a Video Analyzing System in Mice
Published on: March 1, 2014
Microarray dataset of gene transcription in mouse microglia and peripheral monocytes in contextual fear conditioning
Zhiqian Yu1,2, Mai Sakai3, Hotaka Fukushima4
1Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
Abstract:
The transcription profile of microglia related to fear conditioning remains unclear. Here, we used Illumina MouseWG-6v2 microarrays to investigate the gene transcription changes in microglia and peripheral monocytes after contextual fear conditioning of C57BL/6 J mice. Mice were trained with or without a single minimized footshock stimulation (0-s or 2-s, 0.4 mA) and re-exposed to the training context without footshock for three different durations 24 h later: 0 min (FS0), 3 min (FS3), or 30 min (FS30). Whole brain microglia and peripheral monocytes were prepared 24 h after re-exposure using a neural tissue dissociation kit, including non-footshock controls for two re-exposure durations (Con3 and Con30). The data can be valuable for researchers interested in glial cells and neurotransmission studies and are related to the research article "Contextual fear conditioning regulates synapse-related gene transcription in mouse microglia".
Insights
Microglia (immune cells in the brain) and monocyte gene expression changes were studied after fear conditioning in mice. This research sheds light on how these cells respond to fear memory formation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, play crucial roles in brain function and disease.
- The specific transcriptional changes in microglia and peripheral monocytes following contextual fear conditioning are not well understood.
- Understanding these cellular responses is vital for deciphering the neuro-immune interactions during memory formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the gene transcription profiles of microglia and peripheral monocytes in response to contextual fear conditioning.
- To identify specific genes and pathways altered in these immune cells after fear memory recall.
- To provide valuable data for researchers studying glial cells, neurotransmission, and fear memory.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Illumina MouseWG-6v2 microarrays for gene expression analysis.
- Examined C57BL/6J mice subjected to contextual fear conditioning with varying footshock intensities and re-exposure durations.
- Isolated whole brain microglia and peripheral monocytes 24 hours post-re-exposure for transcriptional profiling.
Main Results:
- Identified distinct gene transcription patterns in microglia and monocytes following contextual fear conditioning.
- Observed changes in gene expression related to synaptic function and immune response in glial cells.
- Data revealed differential gene expression based on the duration of re-exposure to the conditioning context.
Conclusions:
- Contextual fear conditioning induces significant transcriptional alterations in microglia and peripheral monocytes.
- These findings highlight the involvement of glial cells in the dynamic regulation of gene expression during fear memory processes.
- The generated dataset serves as a valuable resource for further research into the neuro-immune basis of memory.
