Nerve growth factor-induced plasticity in medial prefrontal cortex interneurons of aged Wistar rats.
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been identified as a critical center for working and long-term memory. In this study, we have examined the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in mPFC interneurons and the density of the mPFC cholinergic and dopaminergic innervation in cognitively-impaired aged Wistar rats. We also tested the possibility that the potential age-related changes might rely on insufficient neurotrophic support. The total number of NPY- and VIP-immunoreactive neurons and the density of vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT)- and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive varicosities were estimated using stereological methods. The number of NPY-immunoreactive neurons was significantly reduced in aged rats, whereas the number of VIP-immunoreactive neurons was unaltered. The decreased expression of NPY was fully reversed by intracerebroventricular administration of nerve growth factor. No differences in the density of VAChT- and TH-immunoreactive varicosities were found among all groups. Our results indicate that the reduced expression of NPY in the mPFC of aged rats can be ascribed to the age-associated loss of neurotrophic support, and raise the possibility that these changes might contribute for the cognitive decline that occurs during non-pathological aging.
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: pedroper@med.up.pt.
Pedro A
PA
Pereira
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: insanato@med.up.pt.
Tiago
T
Millner
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: manelvilela8@gmail.com.
Manuel
M
Vilela
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: sergioalvesdesousa7@gmail.com.
Sérgio
S
Sousa
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: cardosoa@med.up.pt.
Armando
A
Cardoso
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: madeira@med.up.pt.
M Dulce
MD
Madeira
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D057567:Memory, Long-Term / Q000187:drug effects*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D065852:Spatial Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000502:physiology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000502:physiology
D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
Acetylcholine; Aging; Dopamine; Medial prefrontal cortex; Nerve growth factor; Peptidergic interneurons