Figure 7. Ketamine Ameliorates the CCI-Induced Impairment in Water Maze Reversal Learning.

(A) Learning curves for the Morris Water Maze (MWM) illustrate the time required for mice in each group to locate a submerged platform (latency) during each subsequent session. CCI-treated mice were initially slower to learn the platform location (Session 2), but by session 4 there were no group differences between Sham and CCI treated mice in locating the platform. P1 represents the probe trial during which the platform is removed and mice are evaluated for their ability to recall the platform in the target location. Markers represent means and error bars represent SD. (B) All groups successfully demonstrated preference for the target location during the first probe trial after training (P1). (C) In the reversal task of the MWM, the platform was moved to a different quadrant, requiring subjects to learn the new location and engage in pattern separation. In this trial, the CCI + Vehicle group failed to successfully adapt to the new location, whereas the CCI + Ketamine group was able to achieve the task. (D) Characteristic path tracings from each group during the reversal probe trials, in which the appropriate target quadrant (black) is in the upper right. Bars represent means and error bars represent SD; *p < 0.05.