The Damage Induced by Chronic Stress on the Spatial Learning and Memory Abilities of Rats and Pertinent Mechanism

Objective To study the damage induced by chronic stress on the spatial learning and memory abilities of rats and pertinent mechanism. Methods Chronic stress model was established by electric-foot accompanied with noise. The Morris water maze was used to observe the spatial learning and memory abilities of the animals. The intrasynaptosomal free Ca 2+ concentration of hippocampus was measured by Fara-2 fluorescent. Results Chronic stress resulted in decrease of the spatial learning and memory abilities of rats and remarkable increase of the intrasynaptosomal free Ca 2+ concentration of hippocampus. Conclusion The spatial learning and memory dysfunction induced by chronic stress may be associated with the high intrasynaptosomal Ca 2+ level of hippocampus.