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Kovács-Valasek A, Pöstyéni E, Dénes V, Mester A, Sétáló G, Gábriel R. Age-Related Alterations of Proteins in Albino Wistar Rat Retina. Cells Tissues Organs 2021; 210:135-150. [PMID: 34218223 DOI: 10.1159/000515447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Imbalance of homeostasis causes permanent changes in the body with time. The central nervous system is especially prone to these changes since it possesses limited regenerative capacity. In the retina, neurons are damaged during the aging process, and this eventually leads to deterioration of vision. In our 2-year-long study, we examined genetically closely related rat individuals to disclose the hidden retinal causes of age-associated visual dysfunction. Morphometric analysis showed significant reduction of the retina thickness with aging, particularly that of the inner plexiform layer. To reveal changes between the age groups, we used immunohistochemistry against vesicular glutamate transporter 1 protein for photoreceptor and bipolar cell terminals, Brn3a for ganglion cells, calbindin 28 kDa for horizontal cells, parvalbumin for AII amacrines, protein kinase Cα for rod bipolar cells, tyrosine hydroxylase for dopaminergic cells, glial fibrillary acidic protein for glial cells, and peanut-agglutinin labeling for cones. The most significant decrease was observed in the density of photoreceptor and the ganglion cells in the aging process. By using immunocytochemistry and western blot technique, we observed that calbindin and vesicular glutamate transporter 1 protein staining do not change much with aging; tyrosine hydroxylase, parvalbumin and calretinin showed the highest immunoreactivity during the midlife period. Most interestingly, the level of glial fibrillary acidic protein also changes similarly to the previously named markers. Our results provide further evidence that protein content is modified at least in some cell populations of the rat retina, and the number of retinal cells declined with aging. We conclude that senescence alone may cause structural and functional damage in the retinal tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Kovács-Valasek
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,János Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Etelka Pöstyéni
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Viktória Dénes
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Adrienn Mester
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - György Sétáló
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,János Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Róbert Gábriel
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,János Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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Sun Z, Cheng Z, Gong N, Xu Z, Jin C, Wu H, Tao Y. Neural presbycusis at ultra-high frequency in aged common marmosets and rhesus monkeys. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:12587-12606. [PMID: 33909598 PMCID: PMC8148503 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The aging of the population and environmental noise have contributed to high rates of presbycusis, also known as age-related hearing loss (ARHL). Because mice have a relatively short life span, murine models have not been suitable for determining the mechanism of presbycusis development and methods of diagnosis. Although the common marmoset, a non-human primate (NHP), is an ideal animal model for studying age-related diseases, its auditory spectrum has not been systematically studied. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) from 38 marmosets of different ages demonstrated that auditory function correlated with age. Hearing loss in geriatric common marmosets started at ultra-high frequency (>16 kHz), then extended to lower frequencies. Despite age-related deterioration of ABR threshold and amplitude in marmosets, outer hair cell (OHC) function remained stable at all ages. Spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), which are the first auditory neurons in the auditory system, were found to degenerate distinctly in aged common marmosets, indicating that neural degeneration caused presbycusis in these animals. Similarly, age-associated ABR deterioration without loss of OHC function was observed in another NHP, rhesus monkeys. Audiometry results from these two species of NHP suggested that NHPs were ideal for studying ARHL and that neural presbycusis at high frequency may be prevalent in primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoer Sun
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Zhenzhe Cheng
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Neng Gong
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, P.R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| | - Zhen Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, P.R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| | - Chenxi Jin
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
| | - Yong Tao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, Shanghai 200011, P.R. China
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Ahmed AS. JAK-1/STAT-3 pathway mediated role in aging cerebellar cortex degenerative changes of albino wistar rats. TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH IN ANATOMY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tria.2020.100089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Mohamed EA, Sayed WM. Implication of JAK1/STAT3/SOCS3 Pathway in Aging of Cerebellum of Male Rat: Histological and Molecular study. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8840. [PMID: 32483368 PMCID: PMC7264275 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64050-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging causes morphological and functional changes in the cerebellum. This work aimed to demonstrate the implication of JAK1/STAT3/SOCS3 on aging-induced changes of rat cerebellum. Thirty male rats were divided into: adult (12 months), early senile (24 months) and late senile (32 months) groups. Immunohistochemical reaction of the cerebellum to GFAP and caspase-3 was assessed and the expression of JAK1, STAT3, SOCS3 proteins was also evaluated. TNFα as well as the activities of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in cerebellar tissue were also measured. The cerebellum of late senile rats revealed more degenerative changes than early senile rats in the form of increase in GFAP and caspase-3 immunoreaction. Additionally, there was decrease in JAK1and STAT3 expression in early and late senile rats and increase in SOCS3 when compare early and late senile groups with adult one. Enhancement of TNFα was noticed with aging as well as significant decrease in GSH and increase in MDA in early senile group. Moreover, late senile group revealed significant decrease in GSH and increase in MDA. It could be concluded that aging resulting in variable changes of the cerebellum as detected by morphological changes, immunohistochemical reactions of caspase-3 and GFAP and expression of JAK1/STAT3/SOCS3 proteins. Additionally, inflammatory marker TNFα and the activity of oxidative/antioxidative stress markers; malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were also affected with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enas Ahmed Mohamed
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Meleda, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Kasr Al-Ainy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Walaa Mohamed Sayed
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Kasr Al-Ainy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
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Astrocyte Support for Oligodendrocyte Differentiation can be Conveyed via Extracellular Vesicles but Diminishes with Age. Sci Rep 2020; 10:828. [PMID: 31964978 PMCID: PMC6972737 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57663-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The aging brain is associated with significant changes in physiology that alter the tissue microenvironment of the central nervous system (CNS). In the aged CNS, increased demyelination has been associated with astrocyte hypertrophy and aging has been implicated as a basis for these pathological changes. Aging tissues accumulate chronic cellular stress, which can lead to the development of a pro-inflammatory phenotype that can be associated with cellular senescence. Herein, we provide evidence that astrocytes aged in culture develop a spontaneous pro-inflammatory and senescence-like phenotype. We found that extracellular vesicles (EVs) from young astrocyte were sufficient to convey support for oligodendrocyte differentiation while this support was lost by EVs from aged astrocytes. Importantly, the negative influence of culture age on astrocytes, and their cognate EVs, could be countered by treatment with rapamycin. Comparative proteomic analysis of EVs from young and aged astrocytes revealed peptide repertoires unique to each age. Taken together, these findings provide new information on the contribution of EVs as potent mediators by which astrocytes can extert changing influence in either the disease or aged brain.
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Godfrey DA, Chen K, O'Toole TR, Mustapha AI. Amino acid and acetylcholine chemistry in the central auditory system of young, middle-aged and old rats. Hear Res 2017; 350:173-188. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2017.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Kubik LL, Philbert MA. The role of astrocyte mitochondria in differential regional susceptibility to environmental neurotoxicants: tools for understanding neurodegeneration. Toxicol Sci 2015; 144:7-16. [PMID: 25740792 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfu254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, there has been a significant expansion in our understanding of the role of astrocytes in neuroprotection, including spatial buffering of extracellular ions, secretion of metabolic coenzymes, and synaptic regulation. Astrocytic neuroprotective functions require energy, and therefore require a network of functional mitochondria. Disturbances to astrocytic mitochondrial homeostasis and their ability to produce ATP can negatively impact neural function. Perturbations in astrocyte mitochondrial function may accrue as the result of physiological aging processes or as a consequence of neurotoxicant exposure. Hydrophobic environmental neurotoxicants, such as 1,3-dinitrobenzene and α-chlorohydrin, cause regionally specific spongiform lesions mimicking energy deprivation syndromes. Astrocyte involvement includes mitochondrial damage that either precedes or is accompanied by neuronal damage. Similarly, environmental neurotoxicants that are implicated in the etiology of age-related neurodegenerative conditions cause regionally specific damage in the brain. Based on the regioselective nature of age-related neurodegenerative lesions, chemically induced models of regioselective lesions targeting astrocyte mitochondria can provide insight into age-related susceptibilities in astrocyte mitochondria. Most of the available research to date focuses on neuronal damage in cases of age-related neurodegeneration; however, there is a body of evidence that supports a central mechanistic role for astrocyte mitochondria in the expression of neural injury. Regional susceptibility to neuronal damage induced by aging by exposure to neurotoxicants may be a reflection of highly variable regional energy requirements. This review identifies region-specific vulnerabilities in astrocyte mitochondria in examples of exposure to neurotoxicants and in age-related neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura L Kubik
- Toxicology Program, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Martin A Philbert
- Toxicology Program, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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Gröschel M, Hubert N, Müller S, Ernst A, Basta D. Age-dependent changes of calcium related activity in the central auditory pathway. Exp Gerontol 2014; 58:235-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2014.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Sharma S, Nag TC, Thakar A, Bhardwaj DN, Roy TS. The aging human cochlear nucleus: Changes in the glial fibrillary acidic protein, intracellular calcium regulatory proteins, GABA neurotransmitter and cholinergic receptor. J Chem Neuroanat 2014; 56:1-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2013.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2013] [Revised: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Sauvant J, Delpech JC, Palin K, De Mota N, Dudit J, Aubert A, Orcel H, Roux P, Layé S, Moos F, Llorens-Cortes C, Nadjar A. Mechanisms involved in dual vasopressin/apelin neuron dysfunction during aging. PLoS One 2014; 9:e87421. [PMID: 24505289 PMCID: PMC3914823 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 12/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Normal aging is associated with vasopressin neuron adaptation, but little is known about its effects on the release of apelin, an aquaretic peptide colocalized with vasopressin. We found that plasma vasopressin concentrations were higher and plasma apelin concentrations lower in aged rats than in younger adults. The response of AVP/apelin neurons to osmotic challenge was impaired in aged rats. The overactivity of vasopressin neurons was sustained partly by the increased expression of Transient receptor potential vanilloid2 (Trpv2), because central Trpv blocker injection reversed the age-induced increase in plasma vasopressin concentration without modifying plasma apelin concentration. The morphofunctional plasticity of the supraoptic nucleus neuron-astrocyte network normally observed during chronic dehydration in adults appeared to be impaired in aged rats as well. IL-6 overproduction by astrocytes and low-grade microglial neuroinflammation may contribute to the modification of neuronal functioning during aging. Indeed, central treatment with antibodies against IL-6 decreased plasma vasopressin levels and increased plasma apelin concentration toward the values observed in younger adults. Conversely, minocycline treatment (inhibiting microglial metabolism) did not affect plasma vasopressin concentration, but increased plasma apelin concentration toward control values for younger adults. This study is the first to demonstrate dual vasopressin/apelin adaptation mediated by inflammatory molecules and neuronal Trpv2, during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Sauvant
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, INRA, Bordeaux, France
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Delpech
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, INRA, Bordeaux, France
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Karine Palin
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, INRA, Bordeaux, France
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Nadia De Mota
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), U1050, INSERM, Collège de France, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris VI, Paris, France
| | - Jennifer Dudit
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, INRA, Bordeaux, France
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Agnès Aubert
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, INRA, Bordeaux, France
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Hélène Orcel
- Institut de GénomiqueFonctionnelle, PharmacologieMoléculaire, UMR 5203, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Pascale Roux
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, INRA, Bordeaux, France
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Sophie Layé
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, INRA, Bordeaux, France
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Françoise Moos
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, INRA, Bordeaux, France
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Catherine Llorens-Cortes
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), U1050, INSERM, Collège de France, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris VI, Paris, France
| | - Agnès Nadjar
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, INRA, Bordeaux, France
- Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- * E-mail:
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Lee KY. Pathophysiology of age-related hearing loss (peripheral and central). KOREAN JOURNAL OF AUDIOLOGY 2013; 17:45-9. [PMID: 24653905 PMCID: PMC3936539 DOI: 10.7874/kja.2013.17.2.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2013] [Revised: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 08/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) refers to bilaterally symmetrical hearing loss resulting from aging process. Presbycusis is a complex phenomenon characterized by audiometric threshold shift, deterioration in speech-understanding and speech-perception difficulties in noisy environments. Factors contributing to presbycusis include mitochondria DNA mutation, genetic disorders including Ahl, hypertension, diabetes, metabolic disease and other systemic diseases in the intrinsic aspects. Extrinsic factors include noise, ototoxic medication and diet. However, presbycusis may not be related to the intrinsic and extrinsic factors separately. Presbycusis affects not only the physical, cognitive and emotional activities of patients, but also their social functioning. As a result, patients' quality of life deteriorates, compounded by various symptoms including depression, social isolation and lower self-esteem. Presbycusis is classified into six categories, as based on results of audiometric tests and temporal bone pathology, established by Schuknecht (1993): sensory, neural, metabolic or strial, cochlear conductive, mixed and indeterminate types. Among these, metabolic presbycusis is the mainstay of presbycusis types. Age-related changes also develop in the central hearing system. Functional decline of the central auditory system, caused by aging, reduces speech-understanding in noisy background and increase temporal processing deficits in gap-detection measures. This study reviews the literature on the age-related hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu-Yup Lee
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
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Cell Biology and Physiology of the Aging Central Auditory Pathway. THE AGING AUDITORY SYSTEM 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-0993-0_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Abstract
We studied the structures of the cerebellar cortex of young adult and old cats for age-related changes, which were statistically analysed. Nissl staining was used to visualize the cortical neurons. The immunohistochemical method was used to display glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactive (IR) astrocytes and neurofilament-immunoreactive (NF-IR) neurons. Under the microscope, the thickness of the cerebellar cortex was measured; and the density of neurons in all the layers as well as that of GFAP-IR cells in the granular layer was analysed. Compared with young adult cats, the thickness of the molecular layer and total cerebellar cortex was significantly decreased in old cats, and that of the granular layer increased. The density of neurons in each layer was significantly lower in old cats than in young adult ones. Astrocytes in old cats were significantly denser than in young adult ones, and accom-panied by evident hypertrophy of the cell bodies and enhanced immunoreaction of GFAP substance. Purkinje cells (PCs) in old cats showed much fewer NF-IR dendrites than those in young adults. The above findings indicate a loss of neurons and decrease in the number of dendrites of the PCs in the aged cerebellar cortex, which might underlie the functional decline of afferent efficacy and information integration in the senescent cerebellum. An age-dependent enhancement of activity of the astrocytes may exert a protective effect on neurons in the aged cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changzheng Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, People's Republic of China
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Day JR, Frank AT, O'Callaghan JP, Jones BC, Anderson JE. The effect of age and testosterone on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the rat cerebellum. Exp Neurol 1998; 151:343-6. [PMID: 9628769 DOI: 10.1006/exnr.1998.6801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone reversed the age-related increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the male rat cerebellum, a brain region not generally associated with gonadal steroid hormone sensitivity. This supports the hypothesis that a decrease in circulating testosterone contributes to age-related increase in GFAP. These data also suggest that reductions in circulating gonadal steroids during aging could render the brain more susceptible to neurodegeneration and that hormone replacement therapy might have value in neurodegenerative disease intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R Day
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA
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