title: Glial cell morphological and density changes through the lifespan of rhesus macaques.
abstract: How aging impacts the central nervous system (CNS) is an area of intense interest. Glial morphology is known to affect neuronal and immune function as well as metabolic and homeostatic balance. Activation of glia, both astrocytes and microglia, occurs at several stages during development and aging. The present study analyzed changes in glial morphology and density through the entire lifespan of rhesus macaques, which are physiologically and anatomically similar to humans. We observed apparent increases in gray matter astrocytic process length and process complexity as rhesus macaques matured from juveniles through adulthood. These changes were not attributed to cell enlargement because they were not accompanied by proportional changes in soma or process volume. There was a decrease in white matter microglial process length as rhesus macaques aged. Aging was shown to have a significant effect on gray matter microglial density, with a significant increase in aged macaques compared with adults. Overall, we observed significant changes in glial morphology as macaques age indicative of astrocytic activation with subsequent increase in microglial density in aged macaques.
authors: Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States; Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA, United States.
authors: Katelyn N
authors: KN
authors: Robillard
authors: Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States; Tulane Program in Biomedical Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States.
authors: Kim M
authors: KM
authors: Lee
authors: Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States.
authors: Kevin B
authors: KB
authors: Chiu
authors: Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, United States; Tulane Program in Biomedical Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States; Tulane Program in Neuroscience, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States. Electronic address: amaclean@tulane.edu.
authors: Andrew G
authors: AG
authors: MacLean
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology*; D066127:White Matter / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*
keywords: Aging; Astrocyte; Glia; Microglia