Mismatch between anxiety status and morphometric parameters in the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.
Aging is associated with behavioral changes, including increased anxiety. In this study we confirmed a hyperanxious status in aged animals, measured in the elevated-plus maze and in the acoustic startle. Subsequently, we searched for age-related changes in the volume and cell numbers in the amygdala or in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, but failed to detect gross structural changes in these two brain areas, both implicated in emotionality.
Pêgo
J M
JM
Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. jmpego@ecsaude.uminho.pt
Morgado
P
P
Cerqueira
J J
JJ
Almeida
O F X
OF
Sousa
N
N
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000367:Age Factors; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000502:physiology; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000473:pathology*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques