Aging and sedentarism decrease vascularization and VEGF levels in the rat substantia nigra. Implications for Parkinson's disease.
It is not known if aging induces changes in nigral vascularization and nigral vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels similar to those previously reported for Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study nonexercised rats displayed age-dependent decreases in the density of nigral microvessels and VEGF mRNA expression, which were reversed by physical exercise. Such changes may enhance the vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons and the risk of developing PD, and may be reduced by exercise. Furthermore, the observed pattern is the opposite of that previously observed in PD, suggesting that the process underlying PD is not an accelerated age-dependent decline in the dopaminergic system.
Villar-Cheda
Begoña
B
Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Experimental Neurology, Department of Morphological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Sousa-Ribeiro
Daniel
D
Rodriguez-Pallares
Jannette
J
Rodriguez-Perez
Ana I
AI
Guerra
Maria J
MJ
Labandeira-Garcia
Jose L
JL
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A