Evaluation of Correlation between Spatial Memory Impairment and Apoptotic Cells Density in CA1 Region of the rat Brain

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the correlation between spatial memory impairment and apoptotic cells density in CA1 region of the aged rats’ brain. Material and methods: For this purpose, we used twelve aged (2 years old) and twelve young Wistar rats (2 months old). After a week of adaptation the five-day protocol Barnes maze test used for spatial learning and memory evaluation in animals. In the end, rats' brains were excised for evaluation of the number of apoptotic cells in CA1 region by TUNEL staining. Then the number of the TUNEL positive cells were counted under a fluorescent microscope. Results: The present study is in correlation with decreased learning and spatial memory in aged rats rather than younger ones (p<0.05). It also showed an increase in number of apoptotic cells in aged rats (p<0.01). According to the results, a significant connection exists between the increasing number of apoptotic cells and spatial memory decreasing (p<0.01).