Age-related changes in the insulin receptor β in the gerbil hippocampus.
The insulin receptor has been reported to be associated with memory formation via the hippocampus. In this study, we observed age-related changes in the insulin receptor β immunoreactivity and its protein levels in the hippocampus of gerbils of various ages in order to identify the correlation between the insulin receptor β and aging processes in the hippocampus. Insulin receptor β immunoreactivity was mainly detected in the molecular and polymorphic layers of the dentate gyrus, and in mossy fibers, Schaffer collaterals, alveus and stratum lacunosum-moleculare of the hippocampus proper (CA1-3) of gerbils at postnatal month 1 (PM 1). Insulin receptor β immunoreactivity decreased with age in all of these structures, except for the alveus. Reduction of the insulin receptor β immunoreactivity was prominent in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus at PM 6 and in the stratum lacunosum-moleculare of the CA1 region at PM 12, while insulin receptor β immunoreactivity was decreased in other regions in the PM 18 groups. In addition, insulin receptor β protein level in the whole hippocampus was slightly increased at PM 3, and it decreased in an age-dependent manner from PM 6 to PM 24. These reductions of the insulin receptor β in the hippocampus may be associated with age-related memory deficits in gerbils.
Park
Chan Woo
CW
Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, South Korea.
Yoo
Ki-Yeon
KY
Hwang
In Koo
IK
Choi
Jung Hoon
JH
Lee
Choong Hyun
CH
Park
Ok Kyu
OK
Cho
Jun Hwi
JH
Lee
Yun Lyul
YL
Shin
Hyung-Cheul
HC
Won
Moo-Ho
MH
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000378:metabolism; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D019599:Mossy Fibers, Hippocampal / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
D014443:Tyrosine; D011972:Receptor, Insulin