TY - JOUR
T1 - Neuronal plasticity in aging
T2 - A quantitative immunohistochemical study of GAP-43 distribution in discrete regions of the rat brain
AU - Casoli, Tiziana
AU - Spagna, Carla
AU - Fattoretti, Patrizia
AU - Gesuita, Rosaria
AU - Bertoni-Freddari, Carlo
PY - 1996/4/1
Y1 - 1996/4/1
N2 - Age-related changes in neuroplasticity have been investigated considering the neuronal growth-associated protein GAP-43 as a marker of nerve cell structural adaptive capabilities. We carried out a quantitative immunohistochemical study on the distribution of GAP-43 in the molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex, in the inner molecular layer of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, in the stratum radiatum of the CA1 region, in layer 1 of the cingulate cortex and in the nerve fiber layer of the main olfactory bulb of 3-, 18- and 31-month-old Wistar rats. A decrease of GAP-43 immunoreactivity was observed in the old rats in comparison with the adult animals in all the 5 areas analyzed, although these variations were only statistically significant in the dentate gyrus, cingulate cortex and olfactory bulb. In these latter zones, GAP-43 immunolabeling is reduced by 54, 42 and 38%, respectively, in the old versus the adult group. Comparing these data with the age-dependent decrease of neuron density innervating the areas investigated, we support the hypothesis that the decline of GAP-43 observed in old animals documents a consistent reduction of axon plasticity in the inner molecular layer of the dentate gyrus and in layer 1 of the cingulate cortex. These results suggest an important role of GAP-43 as a marker of age-dependent deterioration of synaptic plasticity, especially in those areas of the brain involved in memory and emotional behavior.
AB - Age-related changes in neuroplasticity have been investigated considering the neuronal growth-associated protein GAP-43 as a marker of nerve cell structural adaptive capabilities. We carried out a quantitative immunohistochemical study on the distribution of GAP-43 in the molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex, in the inner molecular layer of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, in the stratum radiatum of the CA1 region, in layer 1 of the cingulate cortex and in the nerve fiber layer of the main olfactory bulb of 3-, 18- and 31-month-old Wistar rats. A decrease of GAP-43 immunoreactivity was observed in the old rats in comparison with the adult animals in all the 5 areas analyzed, although these variations were only statistically significant in the dentate gyrus, cingulate cortex and olfactory bulb. In these latter zones, GAP-43 immunolabeling is reduced by 54, 42 and 38%, respectively, in the old versus the adult group. Comparing these data with the age-dependent decrease of neuron density innervating the areas investigated, we support the hypothesis that the decline of GAP-43 observed in old animals documents a consistent reduction of axon plasticity in the inner molecular layer of the dentate gyrus and in layer 1 of the cingulate cortex. These results suggest an important role of GAP-43 as a marker of age-dependent deterioration of synaptic plasticity, especially in those areas of the brain involved in memory and emotional behavior.
KW - Aging
KW - Cerebellum
KW - Cingulate cortex
KW - GAP-43
KW - Hippocampus
KW - Neuronal plasticity
KW - Olfactory bulb
KW - Quantitative immunohistochemistry
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U2 - 10.1016/0006-8993(95)01504-3
DO - 10.1016/0006-8993(95)01504-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 8861615
AN - SCOPUS:0029926942
VL - 714
SP - 111
EP - 117
JO - Brain Research
JF - Brain Research
SN - 0006-8993
IS - 1-2
ER -