Characterization of learning-induced changes in plasticity-related gene expression in the retrosplenial cortex following a novel object recognition task

Several studies have demonstrated that the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is strongly implicated in navigation and contextual memory. Previously, we found that the RSC is also required for the processing of an object-recognition memory (ORM) through local pharmacological inhibition of transcription and translation within the RSC. Moreover, our findings in rodents showed that the RSC is required for ORM consolidation and retrieval only when it is intact during acquisition. Taking these results into account, we aimed to assess changes in plasticity-related gene expression and understand their role in the consolidation of the ORM. For this purpose, animals were trained in a novel object recognition task using a Y-maze, and the RSC was dissected and homogenized for Western blot analysis of plasticity-related gene expression.