Aging alters the molecular dynamics of synapses in a sexually dimorphic pattern in zebrafish (Danio rerio).
The zebrafish has become a popular model for studying normal brain aging due to its large fecundity, conserved genome, and available genetic tools; but little data exists about neurobiological age-related alterations. The current study tested the hypothesis of an association between brain aging and synaptic protein loss across males and females. Western blot analysis of synaptophysin (SYP), a presynaptic vesicle protein, and postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) and gephyrin (GEP), excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic receptor-clustering proteins, respectively, was performed in young, middle-aged, and old male and female zebrafish (Danio rerio) brains. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that PSD-95 significantly increased in aged females and SYP significantly decreased in males, but GEP was stable. Thus, these key synaptic proteins vary across age in a sexually dimorphic manner, which has been observed in other species, and these consequences may represent selective vulnerabilities for aged males and females. These data expand our knowledge of normal aging in zebrafish, as well as further establish this model as an appropriate one for examining human brain aging.
Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Aysel Sabuncu Brain Research Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey; UNAM-Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics Zebrafish Facility, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.
Elif Tugce
ET
Karoglu
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.
Dilara Ozge
DO
Halim
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.
Bahriye
B
Erkaya
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.
Ferda
F
Altaytas
Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Aysel Sabuncu Brain Research Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey; UNAM-Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics Zebrafish Facility, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.
Ayca
A
Arslan-Ergul
Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Aysel Sabuncu Brain Research Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey; UNAM-Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics Zebrafish Facility, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.
Ozlen
O
Konu
Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Aysel Sabuncu Brain Research Center, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey; UNAM-Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics Zebrafish Facility, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey; Department of Psychology, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: michelle@bilkent.edu.tr.
Michelle M
MM
Adams
D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D023421:Models, Animal; D000074407:SAP90-PSD95 Associated Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013569:Synapses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015027:Zebrafish
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000074407:SAP90-PSD95 Associated Proteins; D016708:Synaptophysin; C073441:gephyrin
Aging; Excitatory synapses; Gender; Inhibitory synapses; Synaptic proteins; Zebrafish