Epac activation initiates associative odor preference memories in the rat pup.

Here we examine the role of the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) in β-adrenergic-dependent associative odor preference learning in rat pups. Bulbar Epac agonist (8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP, or 8-pCPT) infusions, paired with odor, initiated preference learning, which was selective for the paired odor. Interestingly, pairing odor with Epac activation produced both short-term (STM) and long-term (LTM) odor preference memories.