title: Comparison of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1-immunoreactive microglia in the spinal cord between young adult and aged dogs.
abstract: Microglia are main form of active immune defense, and they are constantly moving and analyzing the CNS for damaged neurons and infectious agents. In this study, we compared microglia in the spinal cord of the young adult (1-2 years old) and aged (10-12 years old) German Shepherd dogs via immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis for ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), a microglial marker. In addition, we also observed the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), produced by activated microglia/macrophage, protein levels in these groups. At first, we found that neuronal nuclei (NeuN, a neuronal marker)-immunoreactive neurons were distributed throughout the grey mate of the spinal cord, and there were no significant differences between the adult and aged groups. Most of Iba-1-immunoreactive microglia were morphologically ramified microglia (resting form) in the adult group, while some Iba-1-immunoreactive microglia were morphologically activated microglia in the aged group. In western blot analysis, Iba-1, IFN-gamma and IL-1beta expression were increased in the aged group. This result may be associated with age-dependent changes in the spinal cord.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jung Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Choong Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ki-Yeon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Moo-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Dae Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Dae Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hwa Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: Seung Myung
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: In Koo
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma