Barnes Maze Test
Objective: Assessment of spatial learning and memory in stroke mice following neuroprogenitor cell ablation using the Barnes maze test
This is a Barnes Maze Test protocol using mouse as the model organism. The procedure involves 5 procedural steps, 1 equipment items, 4 materials. Extracted from a 2013 paper published in Journal of Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
mouse • nestin-δ-HSV-TK-EGFP transgenic mice and wild-type controls • unknown • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
~4 week study window
Core workflow
Pre-stroke treatment with GCV or saline • Experimental stroke induction • Barnes maze testing
Primary readouts
- Spatial learning and memory performance in Barnes maze
- Poststroke motor function
- Number of retrogradely labeled neurons in entorhinal cortex
- Synaptic connectivity between dentate gyrus and entorhinal cortex
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Pre-stroke treatment with GCV or saline
Ganciclovir (200 mg/kg/d) or saline was continuously administered via osmotic pumps to transgenic and wild-type mice
Note: Treatment administered before experimental stroke to ablate baseline and stroke-induced neuroprogenitor cells
View evidence from paper
“Ganciclovir (GCV; 200 mg/kg/d) or saline was continuously administered via osmotic pumps in mice for 4 weeks before the induction of experimental stroke”
Experimental stroke induction
Experimental stroke was induced in mice following the 4-week pre-treatment period
Note: Stroke induction occurred after GCV or saline treatment period
View evidence from paper
“4 weeks before the induction of experimental stroke”
Barnes maze testing
Mice were tested in the Barnes maze to assess spatial learning and memory following stroke
Note: Transgenic stroke mice given GCV showed impaired performance compared to saline control or wild-type stroke mice given GCV
View evidence from paper
“Transgenic stroke mice given GCV displayed impaired spatial learning and memory in the Barnes maze test compared with saline control or wild-type stroke mice given GCV”
Motor function assessment
Poststroke motor function was evaluated in transgenic and control mice
Note: No significant difference in motor function was observed between GCV-treated and vehicle-treated transgenic mice despite NPC ablation
View evidence from paper
“there was no significant difference in poststroke motor function between transgenic mice treated with GCV and those treated with vehicle”
Viral tracing of synaptic connectivity
PRV614 polysynaptic viral marker was injected into the dentate gyrus to assess synaptic connectivity between dentate gyrus and entorhinal cortex
Note: Retrogradely labeled neurons were counted in the entorhinal cortex following injection
View evidence from paper
“nestin-δ-HSV-TK-EGFP mice treated with GCV had fewer retrogradely labeled neurons in the entorhinal cortex (EC) when injected with the polysynaptic viral marker PRV614 in the dentate gyrus (DG)”