Effect of White Noise on Expression of NOS Positive Neurons in Hippocampus of Rats during the Processing of Learning and Memory / 中国心理卫生杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the effects of exposure to white noise on the procession of learning and memory, and the expression of NOS (nitric oxide synthase) in hippocampus of rats Method: 20 rats were randomly divided into two groups for observation of spatial learning and memory, one group exposed to 80 dB white noise during Y-maze training, the other group received Y-maze training under normal condition Another 24 rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, they experienced normal Y-maze training, noise Y-maze training and sole noise as control respectively Immunohistochemical assay was used to investigate the expression of NOS positive neurons Result: Noise hampered the ability of rats' spatial learning and memory, furthermore, the number of NOS positive neurons in hippocampus of noise training group was less than that of normal training group Conclusion: The activity of NOS positive neuron in hippocampus was decreased by exposure to noise, suggesting the inhibition of learning dependent long term procession in hippocampus and corresponding difficulty in obtaining and maintaining of memory