Senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity expression in aging hippocampal neurons.
To investigate the activity of senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-GAL) in the hippocampus of aging rats. Hippocampi of 6-, 18-, and 24-month-old rats were observed by histochemical staining for SA-beta-GAL and cytochemical staining for SA-beta-GAL in cultured hippocampal neurons. The activity of SA-beta-GAL doubled in hippocampal pyramidal cells of the CA3 region in rats between 6 and 18 months (14.57+/-2.74% vs. 31.66+/-14.12% SA-beta-GAL-positive, respectively), and reached 50.76+/-14.41% positive at 24 months. The activity of SA-beta-GAL also increased as a function of time upon prolonged culture of cultured hippocampal neurons with 95% of cells being SA-beta-GAL-positive at 20 days in vitro. Interestingly, no SA-beta-GAL-positive cells were found in neurons of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, a neurogenic region of the brain, at any age examined. SA-beta-GAL can be used as a senescence biomarker in determining senescent neurons in hippocampal pyramidal cells of the CA3 region in advanced aging.
Geng
Yi-Qun
YQ
Central Laboratory, Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou University Medica College, Dongxia Bei Road, Shantou, 515041 Guangdong, China. yqgeng@126.com
Guan
Ji-Tian
JT
Xu
Xiao-Hu
XH
Fu
Yu-Cai
YC
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D056654:CA3 Region, Hippocampal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D001616:beta-Galactosidase