Age-Related Deficits in Spatial Memory and Hippocampal Spines in Virgin, Female Fischer 344 Rats

Figure 2

(a) Object placement-exploration time during the sample trial. Mean exploration time ± SEM for young (𝑛=8) and aged rats (𝑛=9) prior to 1- and 1.5-hour intertrial delay trials. No significant differences by two-way ANOVA (group × trial). (b) Object placement-exploration time during the retention trial. Mean exploration time ± SEM at old and new locations is shown for 1- and 1.5-hour intertrial delay trials for young (𝑛=8) and aged (𝑛=9) rats. Data analyzed by three-way ANOVA, group × location × delay: group effect (𝐹(1,76)=19.36, 𝑃<0.0001) indicated that the young group explored the objects more than the aged group; location effect (𝐹(1,76)=9.81, 𝑃<0.002) and a group × location interaction (𝐹(1,76)=4.06, 𝑃<0.04). Post hoc differences tested by paired t-tests where *𝑃<0.05, **𝑃<0.01.

(a)

(b)