Association between Y-Maze Acquisition Learning and Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Polymorphisms in Mice

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between the acquisition process in the Y-maze and H-2 class II polymorphisms in mice. METHODS: Mice were trained for 5 consecutive days in the Y-maze. The value of the slope of the latent period was considered an indication for the acquisition process. A slope < 0 indicated learning during the training and a slope > 0 indicated no learning. The H-2 polymorphism was determined with PCR amplification, and the correlation between the alleles and the acquisition process was analyzed. RESULTS: The overall percentage of mice that learned was 46.1%. The percentage of mice that had learned with MudoEb5 (37.9%) was significantly lower than that of mice without MudoEb5 (61.1%; P < 0.05). The percentage of mice that had learned with MudoEb7 (26.1%) was significantly lower than that of mice without MudoEb7 (51.9%; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and other alleles may be involved in the acquisition process. There may be a biological basis for learning in mice.