Post-retrieval late process contributes to persistence of reactivated fear memory
- Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Abstract
Several studies have demonstrated the mechanisms involved in memory persistence after learning. However, little is known about memory persistence after retrieval. In this study, a protein synthesis inhibitor, anisomycin, was infused into the basolateral amygdala of mice 9.5 h after retrieval of contextual conditioned fear. Anisomycin attenuated fear memory after 7 d, but not after 2 d. In contrast, infusion of anisomycin 5- or 24-h post-retrieval was ineffective. These findings indicate that anisomycin attenuates the persistence of reactivated fear memory in a time-dependent manner. We propose that late protein synthesis is required for memory persistence after retrieval.
Footnotes
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↵1 Corresponding author
E-mail nomura{at}mol.f.u-tokyo.ac.jp
- Received November 17, 2012.
- Accepted March 19, 2013.
- © 2013 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press