Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Chronic corticosterone impairs memory performance in the Barnes maze

R N McLay1, S M Freeman, J E Zadina

  • 1Neuroscience Program, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. rmclay@tmc.tulane.edu

Physiology & Behavior
|June 9, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Chronic stress impairs spatial memory in rodents, with glucocorticoids as the likely cause. The Barnes maze effectively assessed these deficits without adding stress, unlike traditional methods.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Oral 18-methoxycoronaridine activity in simian and murine <i>Leishmania amazonensis</i> infection.

Frontiers in pharmacology·2026
Same author

Oxytocin receptor binding in the titi monkey hippocampal formation is associated with parental status and partner affiliation.

Scientific reports·2020
Same author

Distributions of oxytocin and vasopressin 1a receptors in the Taiwan vole and their role in social monogamy.

Journal of zoology (London, England : 1987)·2016
Same author

μ and κ opioid receptor distribution in the monogamous titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus): implications for social behavior and endocrine functioning.

Neuroscience·2015
Same author

Neuroanatomical distribution of oxytocin and vasopressin 1a receptors in the socially monogamous coppery titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus).

Neuroscience·2014
Same author

PPARγ activation blocks development and reduces established neuropathic pain in rats.

Neuropharmacology·2013

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Science
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Chronic stress is known to impair spatial memory and hippocampal function in rodents.
  • Glucocorticoids are implicated as the primary mediators of stress-induced cognitive deficits.
  • Existing spatial memory tests, like the Morris water maze and eight-arm radial maze, have limitations due to inherent stress or confounding effects of glucocorticoids on motivation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the behavioral effects of chronic glucocorticoid administration on spatial memory.
  • To evaluate the utility of the Barnes circular platform maze (BCM) as a less stressful alternative for assessing stress-induced cognitive impairments.
  • To compare the BCM with traditional spatial memory tests in glucocorticoid-treated animals.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Rodents were administered corticosterone at stress-equivalent concentrations for 3 months.
  • Behavioral testing was conducted using the Morris water maze, the eight-arm radial maze, and the Barnes circular platform maze.
  • Spatial memory performance was assessed across all three maze paradigms.

Main Results:

  • Animals treated with chronic corticosterone exhibited significantly impaired spatial memory behavior.
  • Impaired performance was observed in the Barnes circular platform maze, consistent with findings in the Morris water maze and eight-arm radial maze.
  • The Barnes maze provided a valid assessment of spatial memory deficits without introducing additional stress from swimming.

Conclusions:

  • Chronic exposure to glucocorticoids, mimicking chronic stress, leads to significant spatial memory impairments in rodents.
  • The Barnes circular platform maze is a suitable and less stressful alternative for evaluating stress-induced spatial memory deficits.
  • These findings highlight the detrimental effects of chronic stress on cognitive function and validate a refined methodology for future research.