Figure 3

Forebrain-specific IKK2-CA expression impairs hippocampus-dependent spatial learning. (A) Scheme of a circular pond used for the Morris water maze paradigm. N, S, E and W mark the orientation of the pond. N (north), S (south), E (east) and W (west). The platform was localised in the centre of the SW quadrant for eight consecutive training days. Arrows mark the different starting positions used in the experiments. (B) Deficit in hippocampus dependent spatial learning of IKK2^nCA mice is deduced from requirement of more time to find the hidden platform in MWM task as compared to the controls at 6M age (n = 14-16). (C) Impaired learning performance of 9M old IKK2^nCA mice indicated by their longer escape latency than the littermates during 8 days’ testing time (n = 13). (B-C) All mice were adult males. All p-values are derived from two-tailed-unpaired student’s t test, Co = wild type and single transgenic littermate controls, IKK2^nCA = transgenic mice with neuron-specific expression of constitutively active IKK2. All data are shown as mean ± SEM. ** p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.