Quantitation of synaptic density in the septal nuclei of young and aged Fischer 344 rats.
Synaptic density in the medial and lateral septal nuclei was examined in 3 and 24-28 months of age Fischer 344 rats. The lateral nucleus had a higher synaptic density than the medial region in both age groups. There were no statistically significant differences in synapse density in either region as a function of age, but the data suggested a subpopulation of aged animals which did show an age-related decline in synaptic density in the lateral, but not medial area of the septum. These data indicate that sample size may be an important variable in assessing possible age-related differences in synaptic density, since a broad range of values, some significantly below the range of young animals, exists in the aged brain.
Scheff
S W
SW
Department of Anatomy, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington 40536-0230.
Scott
S A
SA
DeKosky
S T
ST
D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012688:Septum Pellucidum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013569:Synapses / Q000648:ultrastructure*