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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Whisker-signaled Eyeblink Classical Conditioning in Head-fixed Mice
Published on: March 30, 2016
Classical conditioning increases membrane-bound protein kinase C in rabbit cerebellum
J H Freeman1, A M Scharenberg, J L Olds
1Behavioral Neuroscience Unit, Laboratory of Adaptive Systems, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Abstract:
We examined membrane-bound protein kinase C (PKC) in the cerebellum of rabbits given paired presentations of a tone conditioned stimulus (CS) that co-terminated with a periocular electrical stimulation unconditioned stimulus (US) or unpaired presentations of the CS and US or restraint in the experimental context. PKC activation was measured by quantitative film autoradiography of [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate ([3H]PBt2) binding in the molecular and granule cells layers of lobule HVI, anterior vermis and Crus I, and in the dentate/interpositus nuclei. There was a statistically significant increase in [3H]PBt2 binding within the molecular layer of lobule HVI in rabbits given paired training relative to controls. The results indicate PKC activation in lobule HVI may be important in acquisition of conditioned eyeblink responses.
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