Prieur EAK, Jadavji NM. Assessing Spatial Working Memory Using the Spontaneous Alternation Y-maze Test in Aged Male Mice.
Bio Protoc 2019;
9:e3162. [PMID:
33654968 DOI:
10.21769/bioprotoc.3162]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The global population is aging and the prevalence of age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia is increasing. Understanding functional impairments and disease processes is of vital importance in order to develop effective therapeutics. Using the natural exploratory behavior of mice, the spontaneous alternation y-maze can assess short-term spatial working memory. The protocol for y-maze testing is straightforward and requires minimal resources, as well as animal training and output. Therefore, it can be broadly applied to study short-term memory in aged rodent models.
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