Age- and Gender-Based Differences in Nest-Building Behavior and Learning and Memory Performance Measured Using a Radial Six-Armed Water Maze in C57BL/6 Mice.

Background: Understanding age-based and gender-based behavioral changes is becoming more important as a greater percentage of people lives longer worldwide. In this study, a C57BL/6 mouse animal model was used to study age-based and gender-based behavioral differences using nest building and radial six-armed water maze (RAWM) testing.

Methods: In C57BL/6 mice, nest-building behavior was recorded as nesting scores, while spatial learning and memory behaviors were assessed using RAWM platform search errors and latencies.

Research Progress on the Risk Factors and Outcomes of Human Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques.

Objective: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory process that results in complex lesions or plaques that protrude into the arterial lumen. Carotid atherosclerotic plaque rupture, with distal atheromatous debris embolization, causes cerebrovascular events. This review aimed to explore research progress on the risk factors and outcomes of human carotid atherosclerotic plaques, and the molecular and cellular mechanisms of human carotid atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability for therapeutic intervention.

Research progress on the age-related changes in proteins of the synaptic active zone.

Neurotransmitter release during synaptic transmission is mediated by the presynaptic active zone. Multiple protein components at the active zone region interact to regulate docking, priming and fusion of the synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane to maintain normal neurotransmitter release. This review discusses research progress in questions of protein transcript and expression pattern changes at the synaptic active zone related to aging and whether these changes have the effects on learning and memory.