Acquisition and extinction of a conditioned passive avoidance reflex in mice with genetic knockout of monoamine oxidase A

• DOI: 10.1007/s11055-006-0022-z
• Publication Date: 2006-03-31T06:44:03Z
• Authors: N. I. Dubrovina; N. K. Popova; M. A. Gilinskii; R. A. Tomilenko; I. Seif
• Keywords: Mice, Knockout; 0301 basic medicine; Analysis of Variance; Mice, Inbred C3H; Behavior, Animal; Retention, Psychology; Extinction, Psychological; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Escape Reaction; Avoidance Learning; Animals; Monoamine Oxidase

We report here the results obtained from comparative analysis of learning and the dynamics of extinction of a conditioned passive avoidance response in mice with genetic knockout of monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) and the progenitor line C3H. Mice of both lines acquired the conditioned passive avoidance reaction efficiently. Mice with genetic knockout of MAO A were characterized by prolonged retention of reproduction of the memory trace, as compared with rapid extinction in C3H mice. Smaller numbers of transfers, and vertical rearings on days 7-13 and the numbers of glances into and rom the dark sector on days 11-13 of extinction in MAO A-knockout mice appear to reflect their more marked fear reactions when confronted with the "dangerous" sector, along with increased anxiety, these facilitating longer-lasting retention of the memory trace.