Sequential training in separate paradigms impairs second task consolidation and learning-associated modulations of hippocampal NCAM polysialylation.

As transient and time-dependent modulations of neural cell adhesion molecule polysialylation (NCAM PSA) are associated with morphofunctional change and required for the consolidation of spatial and nonspatial forms of learning, we determined the demands imposed on this system by sequential training in the Morris water maze followed by the passive avoidance paradigm. Animals trained in this manner had recall of the water maze but not the passive avoidance response as judged by their escape and avoidance latencies, respectively. Activation of NCAM PSA on dentate neurons at the 12-h post-training time suggested information processing; however, this was significantly less than that predicted for coincident acquisition of both tasks. When sequential training was separated by an interparadigm period of 2 h, an enduring NCAM PSA activation was observed which was indistinguishable from the sum of the expected activations for each individual task. These observations suggest that the NCAM PSA response may become saturated when alternate tasks are presented without an intervening period. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.