The influence of platform color on the learning and memory performance of rats in Morris water maze / 中国现代医生

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the influence of platform color on the learning and memory performance of rats in Morris water maze. Methods 36 adult male SD rats were randomized into two groups and put in water mazes with blue platform (blue group, n=18) and white platform (white group, n=18) respectively. The rats were trained 4 times per day for 6 days. The performance was indicated by escape latency in each training. The spatial memory ability of rats was assessed through spatial probe on the 7th day. Results No significant difference of average escape latency was found in rats of two groups in the place navigation in the training on the first day(P＞0. 05). Escape latency on each day of rats in blue group was shorter than that of rats in white group. Significant difference of escape latency was noticed on the 3rd and 4th day between two groups. There was no significant difference in the results of spatial probe in rats of two groups (P＞0. 05). Conclusion The improvement of learning ability in rats of blue group is faster than that in rats of white group.