Spatial reference memory in rodents is commonly performed in the Morris Water Maze (MWM). The use of control groups on this task is essential in order to subtract brain activity not related to learning. To study the functional contribution of selected brain areas, we assessed neuronal metabolic activity thorough quantitative cytochrome c oxidase histochemistry. This technique allows the measurement of the oxidative metabolism responsible for ATP production. Our objective is to analyse if the swimming control group is an optimal control for the evaluation of spatial reference memory task. To do so, we explore the behaviour in the MWM and the neuronal metabolic activity of motor cortex and its layers, in addition to hippocampus. For this purpose, three groups of Wistar rats were used: reference memory group, swimming control, and cage control. The behavioural results show significant differences between the experimental group and the swimming control group in time spent in the quadrants and swimming speed. In addition, higher neuronal hippocampal metabolic activity (CA1 subfield) was found in the experimental when compared to both controls. However, there are no differences in the motor cortex neuronal metabolic activity of the groups. Therefore, we can assume that the swimming control group effectively isolates the motor activity during the swim and the behavioural results are due to the hippocampal activity related to learning itself and not the physical activity performed in the labyrinth.

中文翻译：

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空间参考记忆任务中的游泳对照组：分析其运动皮层活动。

啮齿动物的空间参考记忆通常在莫里斯水迷宫（MWM）中进行。为了减少与学习无关的大脑活动，在此任务上使用对照组至关重要。为了研究所选大脑区域的功能贡献，我们通过定量细胞色素C氧化酶组织化学评估了神经元的代谢活性。该技术允许测量负责ATP产生的氧化代谢。我们的目标是分析游泳对照组是否是评估空间参考记忆任务的最佳对照组。为此，我们研究了海马之外的MWM中的行为以及运动皮层及其各层的神经元代谢活性。为了这个目的，使用三组Wistar大鼠：参考记忆组，游泳对照和笼养对照。行为结果表明，实验组和游泳对照组在象限上花费的时间和游泳速度之间存在显着差异。另外，与两个对照相比，在实验中发现了更高的神经元海马代谢活性（CA1子域）。但是，各组的运动皮层神经元代谢活性没有差异。因此，我们可以假设游泳对照组有效地隔离了游泳过程中的运动活动，其行为结果是由于与学习本身有关的海马活动，而不是迷宫中进行的身体活动。与两个对照相比，在实验中发现较高的神经元海马代谢活性（CA1子域）。但是，各组的运动皮层神经元代谢活性没有差异。因此，我们可以假设游泳对照组有效地隔离了游泳过程中的运动活动，其行为结果是由于与学习本身有关的海马活动，而不是迷宫中进行的身体活动。与两个对照相比，在实验中发现较高的神经元海马代谢活性（CA1子域）。但是，各组的运动皮层神经元代谢活性没有差异。因此，我们可以假设游泳对照组有效地隔离了游泳过程中的运动活动，其行为结果是由于与学习本身有关的海马活动，而不是迷宫中进行的身体活动。