Region-specific glial hyperplasia and neuronal stability of rat lateral geniculate nucleus during aging.

In this study, we used design-based stereology to estimate the number of neurons, glial cells, the glia/neuron ratio and the volume of the LGN of Wistar rats from 3, 13 or 23months of age. We examined each LGN subdivision processed by immunohistochemistry for NeuN and Nissl counterstain. We observed no significant age-related neuronal loss in any nuclei and a 21% and 33% significant increase in dLGN and IGL glial cells of 23month-old rats. We also observed the glia/neuron relation increases in dLGN of 13month-old rats and in dLGN, IGL and vLGN internal portion of 23month-old ones. Moreover, we report an age-related increase in IGL volume. These results show region-specific glial hyperplasia during aging within LGN nuclei, perhaps due to compensatory responses to inflammation. In addition, we observed the glia/neuron ratio as a more sensitive parameter to quantify age-related alterations. Hence, we provide an updated and expanded quantitative characterization of these visual-related thalamic nuclei and its variability across lifespan.
PMID: 29113752 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Experimental Gerontology - November 4, 2017 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Fiuza FP, Queiroz ACA, Câmara DA, Cavalcanti JRLP, Nascimento Júnior ES, Lima RH, Engelberth RCGJ, Cavalcante JS Tags: Exp Gerontol Source Type: research