Differential evolution of PSA-NCAM expression during aging of the rat telencephalon.
Changes in the ability of neuronal networks to undergo structural remodeling may be involved in the age-associated cognitive decline. The polysialylated form of the neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) declines dramatically during postnatal development, but persists in several regions of the young-adult rat telencephalon, where it participates, through its anti-adhesive properties, in neuronal structural plasticity. However, PSA-NCAM expression during aging has only been studied in the dentate gyrus and the piriform cortex layer II, where it is strongly downregulated in adult (middle-aged) individuals. Using immunohistochemistry, we have observed that in most of the telencephalic areas studied the number of PSA-NCAM expressing cells and the intensity of PSA-NCAM expression in the neuropil remains stable during aging. Old rats only show decreases in the number of PSA-NCAM expressing cells in the lateral amygdala and retrosplenial cortex, and in neuropil expression of stratum lucidum. Given the role of PSA-NCAM in neuronal plasticity, the present results indicate that, even during aging, many regions of the CNS may display neurite, spine or synaptic remodeling.
Varea
Emilio
E
Neurobiology Unit and Program in Basic and Applied Neurosciences, Cell Biology Dpt., Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, Burjassot 46100, Spain.
Castillo-Gómez
Esther
E
Gómez-Climent
María Angeles
MA
Guirado
Ramón
R
Blasco-Ibáñez
José Miguel
JM
Crespo
Carlos
C
Martínez-Guijarro
Francisco José
FJ
Nácher
Juan
J
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000679:Amygdala / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002452:Cell Count; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008032:Limbic System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1; D012794:Sialic Acids; C103469:polysialyl neural cell adhesion molecule