Contributions of the mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase C cascades in spatial learning and memory mediated by the nucleus accumbens.

Several studies have reported a role for the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) in learning and memory. Specifically, NAcc seems to function as a neural bridge for the translation of corticolimbic information to the motor system mediating locomotor learning, but the signaling mechanisms involved in this striatal learning await further investigation. The present experiments investigated the role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase C (PKC) cascades within the NAcc of Long-Evans rats in a food-search spatial learning task (FSSLT).

Spatial learning in rats is impaired by microinfusions of protein kinase C-gamma antisense oligodeoxynucleotide within the nucleus accumbens.

The nucleus accumbens (NAcc) has been shown to play a role in motor and spatial learning. Protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated in the mechanisms of initiation and maintenance of long-term potentiation that is thought to be involved in the storage of long-term memory. In the present study, the importance of de novo synthesis of PKC-gamma within the NAcc in the acquisition and retention of spatial discrimination learning was assessed using an antisense knockdown approach.