As the automated maze was subject-paced it was important to run further analyses to ensure that the deficit in the HPC group was not attributable to differences in the running speeds of the two cohorts of animals.
WT and P2X7R−/− mice of the Y-maze groups were subjected to a 5-min test in the Y-maze with 30-min ITI.
To evaluate the effects of the treatments on spontaneous locomotor activity, which could interfere with performance in the defensive burying test and elevated plus maze, the rats were subjected to a 5 min test in the open field after the defensive burying and elevated plus maze tests.
Forty eight hours after the completion of the elevated plus-maze test, the animals were subjected to the open field test, normally used to assess emotionality, based on the same conflict situation as in the EPM.
We also employed the Barnes maze as an alternative cognitive test for mice that were subjected to the water maze test at an earlier age to avoid residual memory retained from previous swimming trainings (van Groen et al. 2002).
Two weeks later, rats were subjected to Barnes maze and fear conditioning tests.
They were subjected to Barnes maze at an age of 21 weeks and fear conditioning at an age of 24 weeks to assess their cognitive functions.
On two successive experimental days, mice were subjected to the maze four times a day with sessions 30 min apart.
Mice (P40) which received MG132 on P1 were subjected to Morris water maze (MWM) training.
At the end of the exposure period, mice were subjected to a cross maze test, in order to quantify anxiety.
