Galeano, PabloBlanco, EduardoLogica Tornatore, Tamara M ARomero, Juan IHolubiec, Mariana IRodríguez de Fonseca, FernandoCapani, Francisco2016-08-092016-08-092015-01-05Galeano P, Blanco E, Logica Tornatore TM, Romero JI, Holubiec MI, Rodríguez de Fonseca F, et al. Life-long environmental enrichment counteracts spatial learning, reference and working memory deficits in middle-aged rats subjected to perinatal asphyxia. Front Behav Neurosci. 2015; 8:406http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2341Journal Article;Continuous environmental stimulation induced by exposure to enriched environment (EE) has yielded cognitive benefits in different models of brain injury. Perinatal asphyxia results from a lack of oxygen supply to the fetus and is associated with long-lasting neurological deficits. However, the effects of EE in middle-aged rats suffering perinatal asphyxia are unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess whether life-long exposure to EE could counteract the cognitive and behavioral alterations in middle-aged asphyctic rats. Experimental groups consisted of rats born vaginally (CTL), by cesarean section (C+), or by C+ following 19 min of asphyxia at birth (PA). At weaning, rats were assigned to standard (SE) or enriched environment (EE) for 18 months. During the last month of housing, animals were submitted to a behavioral test battery including Elevated Plus Maze, Open Field, Novel Object Recognition and Morris water maze (MWM). Results showed that middle-aged asphyctic rats, reared in SE, exhibited an impaired performance in the spatial reference and working memory versions of the MWM. EE was able to counteract these cognitive impairments. Moreover, EE improved the spatial learning performance of middle-aged CTL and C+ rats. On the other hand, all groups reared in SE did not differ in locomotor activity and anxiety levels, while EE reduced locomotion and anxiety, regardless of birth condition. Recognition memory was altered neither by birth condition nor by housing environment. These results support the importance of environmental stimulation across the lifespan to prevent cognitive deficits induced by perinatal asphyxia.enPerinatal asphyxiaEnvironmental enrichmentAgingHabituationAnxiatyRecognition memorySpatial reference memorySpatial working memoryAnsiedadAsfixiaEscala de evaluación de la conductaTraumatismos cerebralesCesáreaCogniciónTrastornos cognitivosAmbienteFetoViviendasLocomociónMemoria a corto plazoOxígenoPartoEmbarazoRatasAprendizaje espacialDesteteMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::AnimalsMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Emotions::AnxietyMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Wounds and Injuries::AsphyxiaMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Nervous System Diseases::Central Nervous System Diseases::Brain Diseases::Brain InjuriesMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Surgical Procedures, Operative::Obstetric Surgical Procedures::Delivery, Obstetric::Cesarean SectionMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Mental Processes::CognitionMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Mental Disorders::Delirium, Dementia, Amnestic, Cognitive Disorders::Cognition DisordersMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Biological Phenomena::Ecological and Environmental Phenomena::EnvironmentMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::FemaleMedical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Embryonic Structures::FetusMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Environment and Public Health::Environment::Environment, Controlled::HousingMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Physiological Phenomena::Physiological Processes::Movement::LocomotionMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Mental Processes::Learning::Memory::Memory, Short-TermMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Behavior::Motor ActivityMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Inorganic Chemicals::Elements::Chalcogens::OxygenMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Reproductive and Urinary Physiological Phenomena::Reproductive Physiological Phenomena::Reproductive Physiological Processes::Reproduction::Pregnancy::ParturitionMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Reproductive and Urinary Physiological Phenomena::Reproductive Physiological Phenomena::Reproductive Physiological Processes::ReproductionMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Rodentia::Muridae::Murinae::RatsMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Physiological Phenomena::Physiological Processes::Nutrition Processes::WeaningMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavioral Disciplines and Activities::Psychological Tests::Behavior Rating ScaleMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Behavior::Spatial Behavior::Spatial Learningresearch article25601829open access10.3389/fnbeh.2014.004061662-5153PMC4283640