Engram reactivation during memory retrieval predicts long-term memory performance in aged mice

NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING

卷:101

Article

Karaca, Kubra Gulmez^1,2,3  Brito, David V. C.¹  Kupke, Janina¹  Zeuch, Benjamin^1,4  Oliveira, Ana M. M.¹ 

[1] Heidelberg Univ, Interdisciplinary Ctr Neurosci IZN, Dept Neurobiol, Neuenheimer Feld 366, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany

[2] Radboud Univ Nijmegen, Med Ctr, Dept Cognit Neurosci, NL-6500 HB Nijmegen, Netherlands

[3] Radboud Univ Nijmegen, Donders Inst Brain Cognit & Behav, NL-6525 EN Nijmegen, Netherlands

[4] European Mol Biol Lab EMBL, Directors Res, Meyerhofstr 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany

关键词: Aging;    Dentate gyrus;    Hippocampus;    Memory trace;    Neuronal ensembles;    Object location memory;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.01.019

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Age-related cognitive decline preferentially targets long-lasting episodic memories that require intact hippocampal function. Memory traces (or engrams) are believed to be encoded within the neurons activated during learning (neuronal ensembles), and recalled by reactivation of the same population. However, whether engram reactivation dictates memory performance late in life is not known. Here, we labeled neuronal ensembles formed during object location recognition learning in the dentate gyrus, and analyzed the reactivation of this population during long-term memory recall in young adult, cognitively impaired-and unimpaired-aged mice. We found that reactivation of memory-encoding neuronal ensembles at long-term memory recall was disrupted in impaired but not unimpaired-aged mice. Furthermore, we showed that the memory performance in the aged population correlated with the degree of engram reactivation at long-term memory recall. Overall, our data implicates recall-induced engram reactivation as a prediction factor of memory performance in aging. Moreover, our findings suggest impairments in neuronal ensemble stabilization and/or reactivation as an underlying mechanism in age-dependent cognitive decline. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free