Enriched environment and masticatory activity rehabilitation recover spatial memory decline in aged mice

To measure the impact of masticatory reduction on learning and memory, previous studies have produced experimental masticatory reduction by modified diet or molar removal. Here we induced spatial learning impairment in mice by reducing masticatory activity and then tested the effect of a combination...

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Published in:	BMC neuroscience Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 63
Main Authors:	Mendes, Fabíola de Carvalho Chaves de Siqueira, de Almeida, Marina Negrão Frota, Felício, André Pinheiro Gurgel, Fadel, Ana Carla, Silva, Diego de Jesus, Borralho, Thaíssa Gomes, da Silva, Rodrigo Perez, Bento-Torres, João, Vasconcelos, Pedro Fernando da Costa, Perry, Victor Hugh, Ramos, Edson Marcos Leal Soares, Picanço-Diniz, Cristovam Wanderley, Sosthenes, Marcia Consentino Kronka
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England BioMed Central Ltd 28-06-2013 BioMed Central
Subjects:	Age Age Factors Aging Analysis of Variance Animal cognition Animals Body Weight Care and treatment Diet Disease Models, Animal Environment Health aspects High-definition television Locomotion - physiology Mastication - physiology Maze Learning Memory Memory Disorders - rehabilitation Memory, Disorders of Mice Older people Plyometric Exercise - methods Rehabilitation Space Perception - physiology Swimming Time Factors Brazil United Kingdom
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Summary:	To measure the impact of masticatory reduction on learning and memory, previous studies have produced experimental masticatory reduction by modified diet or molar removal. Here we induced spatial learning impairment in mice by reducing masticatory activity and then tested the effect of a combination of environmental enrichment and masticatory rehabilitation in recovering spatial learning at adulthood and in later life. For 6 months (6M) or 18 months (18M), we fed three groups of mice from postnatal day 21 respectively with a hard diet (HD) of pellets; pellets followed by a powdered, soft diet (HD/SD, divided into equal periods); or pellets followed by powder, followed by pellets again (HD/SD/HD, divided into equal periods). To mimic sedentary or active lifestyles, half of the animals from each group were raised from weaning in standard cages (impoverished environment; IE) and the other half in enriched cages (enriched environment; EE). To evaluate spatial learning, we used the Morris water maze. IE6M-HD/SD mice showed lower learning rates compared with control (IE6M-HD) or masticatory rehabilitated (IE6MHD/SD/HD) animals. Similarly, EE-HD/SD mice independent of age showed lower performance than controls (EE-HD) or rehabilitated mice (EE-HD/SD/HD). However, combined rehabilitation and EE in aged mice improved learning rate up to control levels. Learning rates did not correlate with swim speed. Reduction in masticatory activity imposed on mice previously fed a hard diet (HD/SD) impaired spatial learning in the Morris water maze. In adults, masticatory rehabilitation recovered spatial abilities in both sedentary and active mice, and rehabilitation of masticatory activity combined with EE recovered these losses in aged mice.
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ISSN:	1471-2202 1471-2202
DOI:	10.1186/1471-2202-14-63