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Gajdošová L, Katrenčíková B, Borbélyová V, Muchová J. The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation and Exercise on Locomotor Activity, Exploratory Activity, and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Adult and Aged Rats. Physiol Res 2024; 73:461-480. [PMID: 39012176 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.935245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging is an inevitable and complex biological process that is associated with a gradual decline in physiological functions and a higher disease susceptibility. Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid, play a crucial role in maintaining brain health and their deficiency is linked to age-related cognitive decline. Combining omega-3-rich diets with exercise may enhance cognitive function more effectively, as both share overlapping neurobiological and physiological effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of exercise and omega-3 fatty acid (FA) supplementation in two different doses (160 mg/kg and 320 mg/kg) on anxiety-like behavior and cognitive abilities in both adult and aged rats. Male Wistar rats (4-5- and 23-24-month-old) were randomly divided into seven groups: 3-week control supplemented with placebo without exercise, low-dose omega-3 FAs, high-dose omega-3 FAs, 7-week control supplemented with placebo without exercise, exercise-only, low-dose omega-3 FAs with exercise, and high-dose omega-3 FAs with exercise. The administered oil contained omega-3 FAs with DHA:EPA in a ratio of 1.5:1. Our results indicate that aging negatively impacts the locomotor and exploratory activity of rats. In adult rats, a low dose of omega-3 FAs reduces locomotor activity when combined with exercise while high dose of omega-3 FAs reduces anxiety-like behavior and improves recognition memory when combined with exercise. The combination of omega-3 FAs and exercise had varying impacts on behavior, suggesting a need for further research in this area to fully understand their therapeutic efficacy in the context of cognitive changes associated with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Gajdošová
- Institute of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 2, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
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Matthews DB, Rossmann G, Matthews SJ, Zank A, Shult C, Turunen A, Sharma P. Increased anxiolytic effect in aged female rats and increased motoric behavior in aged male rats to acute alcohol administration: Comparison to younger animals. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 239:173770. [PMID: 38636813 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
The population of most countries in the world is increasing and understanding risk factors that can influence the health of the older population is critical. Older adults consume alcohol often in a risky, binge manner. Previous work has demonstrated that aged rats are more sensitive to many of the effects of acute ethanol. In the current project aged, adult, and adolescent female and male rats were tested on the elevated plus maze and open field following either a 1.0 g/kg alcohol injection or a saline injection. We report sex- and age-dependent effects whereas aged female rats, but not aged male rats, showed an increased anxiolytic effect of alcohol in the elevated plus maze while aged male rats, but not aged female rats, showed increased stimulatory movement in the open field. In addition, significant age effects were found for both female and male rats. It is proposed that the sex- and age-dependent effects reported in the current studies may be due to differential levels of alcohol-induced allopregnanolone for the anxiolytic effects and differential levels of alcohol-induced dopamine for the stimulatory effects. The current work provides insights into factors influencing alcohol consumption in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas B Matthews
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI 54701, United States of America.
| | - Gillian Rossmann
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI 54701, United States of America
| | - Sadie J Matthews
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI 54701, United States of America
| | - Aeda Zank
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI 54701, United States of America
| | - Carolyn Shult
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI 54701, United States of America
| | - Alicia Turunen
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI 54701, United States of America
| | - Pravesh Sharma
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic Health System, Eau Claire, WI 54703, United States of America
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Mariën V, Piskin I, Zandecki C, Van houcke J, Arckens L. Age-related alterations in the behavioral response to a novel environment in the African turquoise killifish ( Nothobranchius furzeri). Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 17:1326674. [PMID: 38259633 PMCID: PMC10800983 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1326674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The African turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) has emerged as a popular model organism for neuroscience research in the last decade. One of the reasons for its popularity is its short lifespan for a vertebrate organism. However, little research has been carried out using killifish in behavioral tests, especially looking at changes in their behavior upon aging. Therefore, we used the open field and the novel tank diving test to unravel killifish locomotion, exploration-related behavior, and behavioral changes over their adult lifespan. The characterization of this behavioral baseline is important for future experiments involving pharmacology to improve the aging phenotype. In this study, two cohorts of fish were used, one cohort was tested in the open field test and one cohort was tested in the novel tank diving test. Each cohort was tested from the age of 6 weeks to the age of 24 weeks and measurements were performed every three weeks. In the open field test, we found an increase in the time spent in the center zone from 18 weeks onward, which could indicate altered exploration behavior. However, upon aging, the fish also showed an increased immobility frequency and duration. In addition, after the age of 15 weeks, their locomotion decreased. In the novel tank diving test, we did not observe this aging effect on locomotion or exploration. Killifish spent around 80% of their time in the bottom half of the tank, and we could not observe habituation effects, indicating slow habituation to novel environments. Moreover, we observed that killifish showed homebase behavior in both tests. These homebases are mostly located near the edges of the open field test and at the bottom of the novel tank diving test. Altogether, in the open field test, the largest impact of aging on locomotion and exploration was observed beyond the age of 15 weeks. In the novel tank diving test, no effect of age was found. Therefore, to test the effects of pharmacology on innate behavior, the novel tank diving test is ideally suited because there is no confounding effect of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Mariën
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ilayda Piskin
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Caroline Zandecki
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jolien Van houcke
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lutgarde Arckens
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Zhvania M, Japaridze N, Tizabi Y, Lomidze N, Pochkhidze N, Rzayev F, Gasimov E. Differential effects of aging on hippocampal ultrastructure in male vs. female rats. Biogerontology 2023; 24:925-935. [PMID: 37515624 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-023-10052-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Age-related decline in physical and cognitive functions are facts of life that do not affect everyone to the same extent. We had reported earlier that such cognitive decline is both sex- and context-dependent. Moreover, age-associated ultrastructural changes were observed in the hippocampus of male rats. In this study, we sought to determine potential differences in ultrastructural changes between male and female rats at various stages of life. We performed quantitative electron microscopic evaluation of hippocampal CA1 region, an area intimately involved in cognitive behavior, in both male and female adolescent, adult and old Wistar rats. Specifically, we measured the number of docking synaptic vesicles in axo-dendritic synapses, the length of active zone as well as the total number of synaptic vesicles. Distinct age- and sex-dependent effects were observed in several parameters. Thus, adult female rats had the lowest synaptic active zone compared to both adolescent and old female rats. Moreover, the same parameter was significantly lower in adult and old female rats compared to their male counterparts. On the other hand, old male rats had significantly lower number of total synaptic vesicles compared to both adolescent and adult male rats as well as compared to their female counterparts. Taken together, it may be suggested that age- and sex-dependent ultrastructural changes in the hippocampus may underlie at least some of the differences in cognitive functions among these groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mzia Zhvania
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University, 3/5 K. Cholokashvili Avenue, 0162, Tbilisi, Georgia.
- Department of Brain Ultrastructure and Nanoarchitecture, Ivane Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi, Georgia.
| | - Nadezhda Japaridze
- Department of Brain Ultrastructure and Nanoarchitecture, Ivane Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi, Georgia
- New Vision University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Yousef Tizabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Nino Lomidze
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University, 3/5 K. Cholokashvili Avenue, 0162, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Department of Brain Ultrastructure and Nanoarchitecture, Ivane Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Nino Pochkhidze
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University, 3/5 K. Cholokashvili Avenue, 0162, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Department of Brain Ultrastructure and Nanoarchitecture, Ivane Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Fuad Rzayev
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cytology, Azerbaijan Medical University, Baku, Azerbaijan
| | - Eldar Gasimov
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cytology, Azerbaijan Medical University, Baku, Azerbaijan
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Hosgorler F, Akkaya EC, Ilgin R, Koc B, Kizildag S, Gumus H, Uysal N. The ameliorative effect of midazolam on empathy-like behavior in old rats. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 396:3183-3193. [PMID: 37209151 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02526-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Although studies suggest that cognitive functions in the elderly are impaired, elderly people tend to be more successful and wiser in solving emotional problems. In empathy-like behavior models, the observer rat rescues the distressed cage mate by displaying emotional and cognitive ability. The aim of the study was to investigate the changes in empathy-like behavior in older rats in comparison to adult rats. In addition, we wanted to determine the effects of alterations in neurochemicals (such as corticosterone, oxytocin, vasopressin, and their receptor levels) and emotional situations on this behavior. In our study, we initially completed empathy-like behavior tests and emotional tests (open field, elevated plus maze) and performed neurochemical examinations in the serum and brain tissues. In the second step of research, we applied a midazolam (benzodiazepine) treatment to examine the effect of anxiety on empathy-like behavior. In the old rats, we observed that empathy-like behavior deteriorated, and anxiety signs were more pronounced. We detected a positive correlation between the latency in empathy-like behavior and corticosterone levels and v1b receptor levels. The midazolam effect on empathy-like behavior was attenuated by flumazenil (a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist). The recordings of ultrasonic vocalization showed frequencies around 50 kHz emitted by the observer and this was associated with the expectation of social contact. Our results state that compared to adult rats, old rats were more concerned and failed during empathy-like behavior. Midazolam may improve this behavior by anxiolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferda Hosgorler
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Balçova, Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Erhan Caner Akkaya
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Balçova, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Rabia Ilgin
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Balçova, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Basar Koc
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Balçova, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Servet Kizildag
- College of Vocational School of Health Services, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Hikmet Gumus
- School of Sport Sciences and Technology, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Nazan Uysal
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Balçova, Izmir, Turkey
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Urrutia PJ, Bórquez DA. Expanded bioinformatic analysis of Oximouse dataset reveals key putative processes involved in brain aging and cognitive decline. Free Radic Biol Med 2023; 207:200-211. [PMID: 37473875 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
The theory that aging is driven by the damage produced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from oxidative metabolism dominated geroscience studies during the second half of the 20th century. However, increasing evidence that ROS also plays a key role in the physiological regulation of numerous processes through the reversible oxidation of cysteine residues in proteins, has challenged this notion. Currently, the scope of redox signaling has reached proteomic dimensions through mass spectrometry techniques. Here, we perform a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of cysteine oxidation changes during mouse brain aging, using the quantitative data provided in the Oximouse dataset. Interestingly, our unbiased analysis identified hundreds of putative cysteine redox switches covering several pathways previously associated with aging. These include the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and one-carbon metabolism (folate cycle, methionine cycle, transsulfuration and polyamine pathways). Surprisingly, cysteine oxidation changes are enriched in synaptic proteins in a highly asymmetric distribution: while postsynaptic proteins tend to increase cysteine oxidation with age, the opposite occurs for presynaptic proteins. Additionally, cysteine oxidation changes during aging are associated with proteins involved in the regulation of the mitochondrial transition pore opening and synaptic calcium homeostasis. Our analysis reinforces the concept that brain aging is associated with selective changes in the oxidation state of key proteins, rather than an overall trend toward increased oxidation. Also, we provide a prioritized list of specific cysteine residues with putative impact in aging processes for future experimental validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela J Urrutia
- Institute for Nutrition & Food Technology (INTA), Universidad de Chile, El Líbano 5524, Santiago, 7830490, Chile; Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism, Santiago, 7800003, Chile
| | - Daniel A Bórquez
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling & Bioinformatics, Center for Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Diego Portales, Ejército Libertador 141, Santiago, 8370007, Chile.
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Yang S, Park JH, Lu HC. Axonal energy metabolism, and the effects in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:49. [PMID: 37475056 PMCID: PMC10357692 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00634-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Human studies consistently identify bioenergetic maladaptations in brains upon aging and neurodegenerative disorders of aging (NDAs), such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Glucose is the major brain fuel and glucose hypometabolism has been observed in brain regions vulnerable to aging and NDAs. Many neurodegenerative susceptible regions are in the topological central hub of the brain connectome, linked by densely interconnected long-range axons. Axons, key components of the connectome, have high metabolic needs to support neurotransmission and other essential activities. Long-range axons are particularly vulnerable to injury, neurotoxin exposure, protein stress, lysosomal dysfunction, etc. Axonopathy is often an early sign of neurodegeneration. Recent studies ascribe axonal maintenance failures to local bioenergetic dysregulation. With this review, we aim to stimulate research in exploring metabolically oriented neuroprotection strategies to enhance or normalize bioenergetics in NDA models. Here we start by summarizing evidence from human patients and animal models to reveal the correlation between glucose hypometabolism and connectomic disintegration upon aging/NDAs. To encourage mechanistic investigations on how axonal bioenergetic dysregulation occurs during aging/NDAs, we first review the current literature on axonal bioenergetics in distinct axonal subdomains: axon initial segments, myelinated axonal segments, and axonal arbors harboring pre-synaptic boutons. In each subdomain, we focus on the organization, activity-dependent regulation of the bioenergetic system, and external glial support. Second, we review the mechanisms regulating axonal nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) homeostasis, an essential molecule for energy metabolism processes, including NAD+ biosynthetic, recycling, and consuming pathways. Third, we highlight the innate metabolic vulnerability of the brain connectome and discuss its perturbation during aging and NDAs. As axonal bioenergetic deficits are developing into NDAs, especially in asymptomatic phase, they are likely exaggerated further by impaired NAD+ homeostasis, the high energetic cost of neural network hyperactivity, and glial pathology. Future research in interrogating the causal relationship between metabolic vulnerability, axonopathy, amyloid/tau pathology, and cognitive decline will provide fundamental knowledge for developing therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Yang
- The Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Jung Hyun Park
- The Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Hui-Chen Lu
- The Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
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Zhvania M, Japaridze N, Tizabi Y, Sharikadze I, Pochkhidze N, Cheishvili L. Anxiety and ultrastructural consequences of chronic mild stress in rats. Neurosci Lett 2021; 771:136390. [PMID: 34896437 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Detrimental consequences following exposure to severe stress, either acute or chronic are well recognized. Chronic mild stress (CMS) is also a leading cause of emotional distress and neuropsychiatric conditions such as anxiety disorders. However, the neurobiological substrates of the latter, particularly at the ultrastructural levels have not been adequately investigated. In this study, adult male Wistar rats were subjected to 4 h daily mild restraint for 20 days and their behavior in open field and elevated plus maze (EPM) were evaluated 24 h after the last restraint. Anxiety-like behavior was evident in CMS exposed rats by increases in rearing and grooming in the open field and the avoidance of open arms in the EPM. Concomitant ultrastructural alterations such as chromatolysis, agglutination of synaptic vesicles or mitochondrial damage were also observed in the central nucleus of amygdala (CNA), an area intimately involved in emotional and fear response, in CMS exposed rats. These results while confirming detrimental consequences of CMS, also suggest that ultrastructural alterations in CNA may be a basis for CMS-induced anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mzia Zhvania
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University. 3/5 K. Cholokashvili Avenue, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia; Department of Brain Ultrastructure and Nanoarchitecture I. Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine. 14 Gotua Street, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia.
| | - Nadezhda Japaridze
- Department of Brain Ultrastructure and Nanoarchitecture I. Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine. 14 Gotua Street, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia; School of Medicine, New Vision University. 1A Evgeni Mikeladze Street, Tbilisi 0159, Georgia
| | - Yousef Tizabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Irina Sharikadze
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University. 3/5 K. Cholokashvili Avenue, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia
| | - Nino Pochkhidze
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University. 3/5 K. Cholokashvili Avenue, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia; Department of Brain Ultrastructure and Nanoarchitecture I. Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine. 14 Gotua Street, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia
| | - Levan Cheishvili
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University. 3/5 K. Cholokashvili Avenue, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia
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Age-Related Individual Behavioural Characteristics of Adult Wistar Rats. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082282. [PMID: 34438740 PMCID: PMC8388463 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Rats are considered adults from 2 to 5 months. During this period, they are used for experimentation in physiology and pharmacology. Adult rats, depending on their age, can be in a different physiological state, which can influence the results of experiments carried out on them. Despite this, age-related changes in adult rats have not yet been examined. Our results showed that as male and female rats progressed from 2 to 5 months of age there was a decrease in the level of motor and exploratory activities, and an increase in the level of anxiety-like behaviour. Age-related changes were dependent upon initial individual characteristics of behaviour. For example, animals that demonstrated high motor activity at 2 months become significantly less active by 5 months, and animals that showed a low level of anxiety at 2 months become more anxious by 5 months. Low-activity and high-anxiety rats did not show any significant age-related changes from 2 to 5 months of age. The results of this work should be taken into account when choosing the age of rats for conducting behavioural experiments. Abstract The aim of this work was to study age-related changes in the behaviour of adult Wistar rats using the open field (OF) and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests. Behavioural changes related to motor activity and anxiety were of particular interest. Results showed that as male and female rats progressed from 2 to 5 months of age, there was a decrease in the level of motor and exploratory activities and an increase in their level of anxiety. Age-related changes were dependent upon initial individual characteristics of behaviour. For example, animals that demonstrated high motor activity at 2 months become significantly less active by 5 months, and animals that showed a low level of anxiety at 2 months become more anxious by 5 months. Low-activity and high-anxiety rats did not show any significant age-related changes in OF and EPM tests from 2 to 5 months of age, except for a decrease in the number of rearings in the EPM. Thus, the behaviour of the same adult rat at 2 and 5 months of age is significantly different, which may lead to differences in the experimental results of physiological and pharmacological studies using adult animals of different ages.
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Lomidze N, Zhvania MG, Tizabi Y, Japaridze N, Pochkhidze N, Rzayev F, Lordkipanidze T. Aging affects cognition and hippocampal ultrastructure in male Wistar rats. Dev Neurobiol 2021; 81:833-846. [PMID: 34047044 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
It is now well established that aging is associated with emotional and cognitive changes. Although the basis of such changes is not fully understood, ultrastructural alterations in key brain areas are likely contributing factors. Recently, we reported that aging-related anxiety in male Wistar rats is associated with ultrastructural changes in the central nucleus of amygdala, an area that plays important role in emotional regulation. In this study, we evaluated the cognitive performance of adolescent, adult, and aged male Wistar rats in multi-branch maze (MBM) as well as in Morris water maze (MWM). We also performed ultrastructural analysis of the CA1 region of the hippocampus, an area intimately involved in cognitive function. The behavioral data indicate significant impairments in few indices of cognitive functions in both tests in aged rats compared to the other two age groups. Concomitantly, a total number of presynaptic vesicles as well as vesicles in the resting pool were significantly lower, whereas postsynaptic mitochondrial area was significantly higher in aged rats compared to the other age groups. No significant differences in presynaptic terminal area or postsynaptic mitochondrial number were detected between the three age groups. These results indicate that selective ultrastructural changes in specific hippocampal region may accompany cognitive decline in aging rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nino Lomidze
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Mzia G Zhvania
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia.,Department of Brain Ultrastructure and Nanoarchitecture, Ivane Beritashviloi Center of Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Yousef Tizabi
- Department of Pharmacology Howard, University College of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Nadezhda Japaridze
- Department of Brain Ultrastructure and Nanoarchitecture, Ivane Beritashviloi Center of Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi, Georgia.,Medical School, New Vision University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Nino Pochkhidze
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia.,Department of Brain Ultrastructure and Nanoarchitecture, Ivane Beritashviloi Center of Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Fuad Rzayev
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cytology, Azerbaijan Medical University, Baku, Azerbaijan
| | - Tamar Lordkipanidze
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
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