Both mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors regulate emotional memory in mice

Abstract

Corticosteroid hormones are thought to promote optimal behavioral adaptation under fearful conditions primarily via glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) Here we examined - using pharmacological and genetic approaches in mice - if mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) also play a role in fearful memory formation As expected administration of the GR-antagonist RU38486 prior to training in a fear conditioning paradigm impaired contextual memory when tested 24 (but not when tested 3) h after training Tone-cue memory was enhanced by RU38486 when tested at 4 (but not 25) h after training Interestingly pre (but not post)-training administration of MR antagonist spironolactone impaired contextual memory both at 3 and 24 h after training Similar effects were also found in forebrain-specific MR knockout mice Spironolactone also impaired tone-cue memory but only at 4 h after training These results reveal that in addition to GRs - MRs also play a critical role in establishing fear memories particularly in the early phase of memory formation (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc All rights reserved