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One-trial association task as a basic biological model of episodic memory in rats
Radostová, Dominika ; Stuchlík, Aleš (advisor) ; Horáček, Jiří (referee) ; Telenský, Petr (referee)
One-trial association task as a basic biological model of episodic memory in rats Abstract A very important structure in the animal and human brain is the hippocampus. The study one of its many functions, episodic memory, is facing with the limited possibilities of non-invasive methods. In this regard, animal models are helpful. In order to study the individual components of such a complex ability in detail, a new behavioral task testing the association of temporally close but separate stimuli was developed. The test animals were exposed to a sequence of a sound conditioned stimulus and an unconditioned electric shock, between which there was a delay of 2 seconds. 59% of the rats successfully learned the association as well as the correct escape reaction to solve the task. Based on the results, the so-called One-Trial Trace Escape Reaction task could be a very valuable tool for a more detailed understanding of animals' incidental one-trial learning important for episodic memory. Another important phenomenon investigated in this work is the development of new neurons in the hippocampus in adulthood and its influence on learning and flexibility. After blocking the animals' neurogenesis with the temozolomide, the animals' ability to learn to avoid an invisible sector in the active avoidance task was tested....
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The role of morphogenes in stem cell neurogenic differentiation in mammals
Slováková, Lucie ; Tlapáková, Tereza (advisor) ; Kyclerová, Hana (referee)
Stem cells are non-differentiated self-renewing cell population that can derive different kinds of cell types according to their differential potential. Neurogenic differentiation is the process of generating of all three types of nervous systems from the neural stem cells. This process is common for embryonic development, however neurogenesis appears to be present also in adult mammalian brain. It continues to generate new neurons within its microenvironments called niches and we can find two major areas of neurogenesis. One is the subventricular zone of the forebrain, the other is the subgranular zone within the hippocampal dental gyrus. In these niches we can find specific signaling molecules called morphogens. Morphogens function in regulating neural stem cell activity. They play a part in proliferation, differentiation and cell migration, thus determining the fate of neural cells. In addition, morphogens play an important role in many diseases and cancers.
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