Source Paper
High‐mobility Group Protein 1/ Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products/ Nuclear Factor‐κB Signalling Pathway Contributes to the Pathogenic Process of Striatal Neuron Impairment in the Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
Zhu Y, Du Z, Sun L, Huang Z, Jia L et al.
Brain Behav • 2026
Morris Water Maze Task
Objective: To assess spatial learning and memory performance in rats using the Morris water maze
Protocol Steps
Timing of experiment
Conduct Morris water maze experiment 5 weeks after 6-OHDA injection
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“This experiment was conducted 5 weeks after the 6‐OHDA injection”
Training protocol
Train rats in Morris water maze twice daily for five consecutive days
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“Initially, the rats underwent training in the Morris water maze twice daily for five consecutive days”
Platform setup
Position a 10 cm diameter target platform in a fixed location within the maze
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“The target platform, which had a diameter of 10 cm, was positioned in a fixed location”
Starting positions
Release animals from four predetermined starting places (east, south, west, and north)
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“Each experiment involved releasing the animals from four predetermined starting places (east, south, west, and north)”
Swimming trial duration
Allow rats to swim for up to 2 minutes or until they reach the target platform
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“letting them swim for up to 2 min or until they reached the target platform”
Successful platform finding
If rat finds platform, allow it to remain on platform for 30 seconds to help remember the position
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“If a rat successfully found and climbed onto the platform, it remained on it for 30 s to help it remember the position”
Failed platform finding
If rat cannot find platform within 2 minutes, manually transfer it to platform and give 30 seconds to stay
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“If a rat couldn't find the platform within 2 min, it was manually transferred there and given 30 s to stay”
Probe test
Administer probe test on the final day of training
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“On the final day of training, a probe test was administered”
Data recording
Record latency using TopScan behavioral analysis system during the test
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“During the test, the TopScan behavioral analysis system (Clever Sys. Inc., USA) was used to record the latency”