Processes of DNA methylation are involved in the mechanisms of amnesia induction and conditioned food aversion memory reconsolidation.

Abstract

We studied the role of DNA methylation in the mechanisms of amnesia in edible snails, which was induced by impairment of conditioned food aversion memory reconsolidation with NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist. The effects of DNA methyltransferase inhibitors were shown to depend on the stage of amnesia. At the early stage of amnesia (day 3 after induction), injections of methyltransferase inhibitors in combination with conditioned food stimulus (reminder) were followed by memory recovery. Application of inhibitors in the absence of the reminder was ineffective. Methyltransferase inhibitors were ineffective at the late stage of amnesia (day 10). Our results suggest that the presentation of reminding conditioned stimuli is followed by reactivation of amnesia. Methylation or demethylation of DNA in nerve cells serves as one of the key mechanisms for amnesia.

• Authors: S V Solntseva, T S Filatova, P V Nikitin, D V Bredov, S A Kozyrev, V P Nikitin
• Journal: Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine (Bull Exp Biol Med) Vol. 156 Issue 4 Pg. 430-4 (Feb 2014) ISSN: 1573-8221 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24771420 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Phthalimides
• RG108
• Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
• Cytidine
• Dizocilpine Maleate
• pyrimidin-2-one beta-ribofuranoside
• Tryptophan
• DNA-Cytosine Methylases

Topics

• Amnesia (genetics)
• Animals
• Conditioning, Psychological
• Cytidine (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• DNA Methylation
• DNA-Cytosine Methylases (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Dizocilpine Maleate (pharmacology)
• Helix, Snails (physiology)
• Learning (drug effects)
• Phthalimides (pharmacology)
• Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Tryptophan (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)