Insight into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of learning and memory from a diverse array of taxa contributes to our understanding of the evolution of these processes. The fire-bellied toad, Bombina orientalis, is a basal anuran amphibian model species who could help us describe shared and divergent characteristics of learning and memory mechanisms between amphibians and other vertebrates, and hence answer questions about the evolution of learning. Utilizing next generation sequencing techniques, we profiled gene expression patterns associated with the extinction of prey-catching conditioning in the brain of the fire-bellied toad. For this purpose, gene expression was at first compared between toads sacrificed after acquisition and extinction of the conditioned response. A second comparison was done between toads submitted to extinction following either short or long acquisition training, which results in toads displaying response extinction or resistance to extinction, respectively. We analyzed brain tissue transcription profiles common to both acquisition and extinction learning, or unique to extinction learning and resistance to extinction, and found significant overlap in gene expression related to molecular pathways involving neuronal plasticity (e.g. structural modification, transcription). However, extinction learning induced a unique GABAergic transcriptomic signal, which may be responsible for suppression of the original response memory. Further, when comparing extinction learning in short- and long-trained groups, short training engaged many pathways related to neuronal plasticity, as expected, but long training engaged molecular pathways related to the suppression of learning through epigenetic mediated transcriptional suppression and inhibitory neurotransmission. Overall, gene expression patterns associated with extinction learning in the fire-bellied toad were similar to those found in mammals submitted to extinction, although some divergent profiles highlighted potential differences in the mechanisms of learning and memory among tetrapods.

从各种分类群中深入了解学习和记忆的分子和细胞机制有助于我们理解这些过程的演变。大腹蟾蜍，Bombina orientalis，是一种基础的 anuran 两栖动物模型物种，可以帮助我们描述两栖动物和其他脊椎动物之间学习和记忆机制的共享和不同特征，从而回答有关学习进化的问题。利用下一代测序技术，我们分析了与火腹蟾蜍大脑中捕食条件消失相关的基因表达模式。为此目的，首先比较在条件反应获得和消失后处死的蟾蜍之间的基因表达。在短期或长期采集训练后提交灭绝的蟾蜍之间进行了第二次比较，这导致蟾蜍分别表现出反应灭绝或对灭绝的抵抗力。我们分析了习得和灭绝学习共同的脑组织转录谱，或灭绝学习和灭绝抵抗所特有的脑组织转录谱，并发现与涉及神经元可塑性的分子途径（例如结构修饰、转录）相关的基因表达存在显着重叠。然而，灭绝学习诱导了一种独特的 GABA 能转录组信号，这可能是抑制原始反应记忆的原因。此外，当比较短期和长期训练组的灭绝学习时，正如预期的那样，短期训练涉及许多与神经元可塑性相关的途径，但长期训练涉及通过表观遗传介导的转录抑制和抑制性神经传递抑制学习的分子途径。全面的，