Important Results
Perineuronal nets affect memory and learning after synapse withdrawal
It has been proposed that the cavities in perineuronal nets (PNNs), which contain synapses, can act as a memory store and that they remain stable after synaptic withdrawal (SW) caused by anoxia or hibernation. We monitor place memory before and after SW. Synaptic withdrawal caused only mild memory deficit, which was not worsened by PNNs disruption. After SW, only animals lacking PNNs showed memory restoration and relearning. The results support a role for PNNs in learning, but not in long‑term memory storage.
Morris Water maze; effects of PNNs removal on memory before and after synapse withdrawal caused by hibernation-like state (HLS). All mice showed normal learning to find the platform (A). Chondroitinase (ChABC) dissolving PNNs was injected after initial training. Hibernated animals showed a partial loss of memory, but not to the level of naïve animals (B). During the relearning phase (C, D), animals in the HLS group did not show significant re-learning. However, animals treated with ChABC and HLS were fast relearners (D).
Publication:
Ružička, J., Dalecká, M., Šafránková, K., Peretti, D., Jendelová, P., Kwok, J.C.F., Fawcet, J.W.: (2022) Perineuronal nets affect memory and learning after synapse withdrawal. Translational Psychiatry. 12(1):480. doi: 10.1038/s41398-022-02226-z.
2023
Sci Rep. 2023 Nov 6;13(1):19183. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-46539-5.
