Age-related dendritic hypertrophy and sexual dimorphism in rat basolateral amygdala.
Little research has examined the influence of aging or sex on anatomical measures in the basolateral amygdala. We quantified spine density and dendritic material in Golgi-Cox stained tissue of the basolateral nucleus in young adult (3-5 months) and aged (20-24 months) male and female Long-Evans rats. Dendritic branching and spine density were measured in principal neurons. Age, but not sex, influenced the dendritic tree, with aged animals displaying significantly more dendritic material. Previous findings from our laboratory in the same set of subjects indicate an opposite effect of aging on dendritic material in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. We also report here a sex difference across ages in dendritic spine density, favoring males.
Rubinow
Marisa J
MJ
Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 603 E. Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. rubinow@uiuc.edu
Drogos
Lauren L
LL
Juraska
Janice M
JM
D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors