title: A neural cell adhesion molecule-derived peptide, FGL, attenuates glial cell activation in the aged hippocampus.
abstract: Neuroglial activation is a typical hallmark of ageing within the hippocampus, and correlates with age-related cognitive deficits. We have used quantitative immunohistochemistry and morphometric analyses to investigate whether systemic treatment with the Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (NCAM)-derived peptide FG Loop (FGL) specifically alters neuroglial activation and population densities within the aged rat hippocampus (22 months of age). A series of 50 μm paraformaldehyde/acrolein-fixed sections taken throughout the dorsal hippocampus (5 animals per group) were immunostained to detect astrocytes (GFAP and S100ß) and microglial cells (CD11b/OX42 and MHCII/OX6), and analysed using computerised image analysis and optical segmentation (Image-Pro Plus, Media Cybernetics). FGL treatment reduced the density of CD11b+ and MHCII+ microglia in aged animals, concomitant with a reduction in immunoreactivity for these phenotypic markers. FGL treatment also markedly reduced GFAP immunoreactivity within all hippocampal subfields in aged animals, without exerting an appreciable effect on the density of S100ß+ cells. These results demonstrate that FGL can indeed regulate neuroglial activation and reduce microglial cell density in the aged hippocampus, and support its potential use as a therapeutic agent in age-related brain disorders.
authors: Department of Life Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK.
authors: Bunmi
authors: B
authors: Ojo
authors: Payam
authors: P
authors: Rezaie
authors: Paul L
authors: PL
authors: Gabbott
authors: Thelma R
authors: TR
authors: Cowely
authors: Nikolay I
authors: NI
authors: Medvedev
authors: Marina A
authors: MA
authors: Lynch
authors: Michael G
authors: MG
authors: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000235:genetics; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; C488618:NCAM protein (681-695), human; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins