Conditioned food aversion reconsolidation in snails is impaired by translation inhibitors but not by transcription inhibitors.

Memory is destabilized during retrieval-induced reconsolidation and can therefore be disrupted or modified. In the present study, we examined the role of translation and transcription processes in long-term food aversion memory reconsolidation in the snail Helix lucorum. The administration of the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin followed by a reminding procedure (presentation of the conditioned stimulus) led to the development of amnesia that persist for 2 weeks or longer. Administration of the mRNA synthesis inhibitors actinomycin D, α-amanitin, or DRB (5,6-dichloro-1-β-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidasole) followed by a reminding procedure did not affect memory retrieval. Our present findings indicate that proteins synthesized from preexisting mRNA that is transcribed during learning and stored in a silent state may be involved in the mechanisms of conditioned food aversion reconsolidation.