In this study, we evaluated the effect of spatial learning on the number of astrocytes in the rat dentate gyrus with Morris water maze. Fifteen male albino Wistar rats were divided into three groups as control, reference memory and working memory groups. Each group was consisted of 5 rats. After spatial learning, the brains were histologically examined; the slides were stained with phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin (PTAH) staining to show the astrocytes. We found significant difference in the number of astrocytes in dentate gyrus between control and reference memory groups, and between control and working memory groups as well. When compared two learning groups there was a significant difference in the number of astrocytes between them, being higher in the working memory group. We concluded that the number of astrocytes increased due to spatial learning and this increase can be affected to the period of learning. Our studies of spatial learning and effect of learning techniques (reference and working memory) showed that the technique that has longer period of learning has more effect on the number of astrocytes
