Spatial memory alterations in three models of hepatic encephalopathy

A behavioural evaluation was carried out on three chronic models of hepatic encephalopathy: two models of type B HE, portacaval shunt (PCS) and portal hypertension (PH) and one of type C HE with cirrhosis and portal hypertension from thioacetamide intoxication (TAA). The tasks selected cover a wide range of behaviours related to: locomotion (rotarod–accelerod test), anxiety (open field and elevated plus maze) and memory (Morris water maze). The results indicate that neither locomotor activity nor anxiety was affected in our models, in comparison with their respective controls. However, this is not the case for the mnesic tasks. Hence, the PCS and TAA groups displayed a severe alteration in spatial reference memory and cannot correctly perform the Morris maze task, while this alteration is less severe in the PH group. On the contrary, the PH group revealed a deficit in spatial working memory, like the TAA group, but this does not occur in subjects with PCS. These results reveal a double dissociation in spatial reference memory and spatial working memory between the PCS and PH groups, which would be of great interest to study about cerebral causes and substrates of the alterations accompanying HE.