[Expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha and erythropoietin in the hippocampus of aging rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and erythropoietin in the hippocampus of aging rats, and to investigate the role of HIF-1alpha and erythropoietin in the aging of nervous system.


METHODS
The expression of Nissl body, HIF-1alpha, and erythropoietin in the CA1 region of the hippocampus in different months was observed by Nissl staining and immunohistochemical technique.


RESULTS
Nerve cells became bigger and appeared sparse, and the Nissl bodies decreased with age. HIF-1alpha positive cells increased significantly with age in the CA1 region of the hippocampus (P<0.05). The expression of erythropoietin presented a parabola with aging in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. The increase from 3 to 18 months and the reduction from 18 to 30 months of erythropoietin positive cells had statistical significance (both P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
HIF-1alpha and erythropoietin are parallelly incremental before middle age, and are separated after middle age, suggesting decreased activity of HIF-1alpha and recession of protein synthesis function may be the main reasons for decreased expression of erythropoietin in the brain during aging. Strengthened endogenous HIF-1alpha activity and supply of exogenous erythropoietin may delay the aging of the nervous system.
Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Haiqin
H
Wu
Huqing
H
Wang
Juanjuan
J
Sha
Yong
Y
Li
Ru
R
Zhang
Ning
N
Bu
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
C497444:Hif1a protein, rat; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D004921:Erythropoietin