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Rocha GS, Freire MAM, Paiva KM, Oliveira RF, Norrara B, Morais PLAG, Oliveira LC, Engelberth RCGJ, Cavalcante JS, Cavalcanti JRLP. Effect of senescence on the tyrosine hydroxylase and S100B immunoreactivity in the nigrostriatal pathway of the rat. J Chem Neuroanat 2022; 124:102136. [PMID: 35809809 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2022.102136] [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: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Senescence is a natural and progressive physiological event that leads to a series of morphophysiological alterations in the organism. The brain is the most vulnerable organ to both structural and functional changes during this process. Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter for the proper functioning of the brain, directly involved in circuitries related with emotions, learning, motivation and reward. One of the main dopamine- producing nuclei is the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), which establish connections with the striatum forming the so-called nigrostriatal pathway. S100B is a calcium binding protein mainly expressed by astrocytes, involved in both intracellular and extracellular processes, and whose expression is increased following injury in the nervous tissue, being a useful marker in altered status of central nervous system. The present study aimed to analyze the impact of senescence on the cells immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and S100B along the nigrostriatal pathway of the rat. Our results show an decreased expression of S100B+ cells in SNpc. In addition, there was a significant decrease in TH immunoreactivity in both projection fibers and TH+ cell bodies. In the striatum, a decrease in TH immunoreactivity was also observed, as well as an enlargement of the white matter bundles. Our findings point out that senescence is related to the anatomical and neurochemical changes observed throughout the nigrostriatal pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel S Rocha
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurelio M Freire
- Graduate Program in Health and Society, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - Karina M Paiva
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo F Oliveira
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - Bianca Norrara
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - Paulo Leonardo A G Morais
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - Lucidio C Oliveira
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | | | | | - José Rodolfo L P Cavalcanti
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil; Graduate Program in Health and Society, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil; Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
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