C57BL/6J mice performed differently in Multiple T Maze (MTM) and Barnes Maze (BM) which were used for evaluation of spatial memory. This promoted us to explore proteins related to this cognitive difference. Hippocampal proteins from C57BL/6J mice after acquisition phase and probe trials in two mazes were extracted and subjected to 2D gel electrophoresis. Protein quantification was analyzed and differentially expressed spots were identified using mass spectrometry and MASCOT searching. Twenty-nine hippocampal proteins from C57BL/6J mice after two maze experiments were significantly different. Expressions of 5 proteins in hippocampus of C57BL/6J mice after BM experiment increased significantly. Twenty-four hippocampal proteins showed significantly increased expression in C57BL/6J mice after MTM experiment. These identified proteins linked to spatial memory could be divided into 6 categories according to their functions: (1) energy metabolism; (2) cytoskeleton; (3) chaperone; (4) neurogenesis; (5) transcription factor and protein synthesis; (6) signal transduction. The result enriched the content of spatial memory mechanism and could promote the development of neuroscience.

Key words: barnes maze, multiple T maze, proteomics, spatial memory, mass spectrometry