Olfactory Memory Assessment
Objective: To investigate whether exposure to an odor-enriched environment affects neurogenesis and olfactory memory performance in adult mice, and to assess olfactory memory without changes in spatial learning
This is a Olfactory Memory Assessment protocol using mouse as the model organism. The procedure involves 7 procedural steps, 2 equipment items, 1 materials. Extracted from a 2002 paper published in Journal of Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
mouse • Not specified • Not specified • adult • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
~5.7 week study window | ~4 hours hands-on
Core workflow
Housing assignment • BrdU injection • Early timepoint assessment
Primary readouts
- Number of BrdU-labeled neurons at 4 hours post-injection
- Number of surviving progenitors in main olfactory bulb at 3 weeks post-injection
- Olfactory memory performance
- Spatial learning performance
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Housing assignment
Assign adult mice to either standard or odor-enriched environment housing conditions
Note: Two experimental groups: standard environment control and odor-enriched environment
View evidence from paper
“Animals housed in either a standard or an odor-enriched environment for 40 d”
BrdU injection
Inject animals intraperitoneally with bromodeoxyuridine to detect proliferation among progenitor cells
Note: Intraperitoneal injection route used
View evidence from paper
“Animals housed in either a standard or an odor-enriched environment for 40 d were injected intraperitoneally with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)”
Early timepoint assessment
Assess the number of BrdU-labeled neurons at 4 hours after BrdU injection
Note: No alteration in BrdU-labeled neuron numbers observed at this timepoint
View evidence from paper
“The number of BrdU-labeled neurons was not altered 4 hr after a single BrdU injection”
Late timepoint assessment
Assess the number of surviving progenitors in the main olfactory bulb at 3 weeks after BrdU injection
Note: Markedly increased number of surviving progenitors in odor-enriched environment animals
View evidence from paper
“The number of surviving progenitors 3 weeks after BrdU injection was markedly increased in animals housed in an enriched environment”
Olfactory memory testing
Test olfactory memory performance in adult mice housed in odor-enriched cages
Note: Adult mice in odor-enriched cages display improved olfactory memory
View evidence from paper
“Adult mice housed in odor-enriched cages display improved olfactory memory without a change in spatial learning performance”
Spatial learning assessment
Test spatial learning performance as a control measure
Note: No change in spatial learning performance observed between groups
View evidence from paper
“Adult mice housed in odor-enriched cages display improved olfactory memory without a change in spatial learning performance”
Hippocampal neurogenesis assessment
Assess hippocampal neurogenesis as a specificity control
Note: Enriched odor exposure did not influence hippocampal neurogenesis, demonstrating specificity to olfactory bulb
View evidence from paper
“Enriched odor exposure did not influence hippocampal neurogenesis”