Age-related changes of NGF, BDNF, parvalbumin and neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity in the mouse hippocampal CA1 sector

Abstract

We investigated the age-related alterations in nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), parvalbumin and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) immunoreactivity of the mouse hippocampal CA1 sector. NGF and BDNF immunoreactivity was unchanged in the hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons from 2 to 50-59 weeks of birth. In contrast, a significant increase in the NGF and BDNF immunoreactivity was observed in glial cells of the hippocampal CA1 sector from 40-42 to 50-59 weeks of birth. On the other hand, the number of parvalbumin- and nNOS-positive interneurons was unchanged in the hippocampal CA1 sector during aging processes, except for a significant decrease of nNOS-positive interneurons 2 weeks of birth. Our results indicate that NGF and BDNF immunoreactivity was unaltered in the hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons during aging processes. In contrast, a significant increase in the NGF and BDNF immunoreactivity was observed in glial cells of the hippocampal CA1 sector during aging processes. The present study also shows that the number of parvalbumin- and nNOS-positive interneurons was unchanged in the hippocampal CA1 sector during aging processes, except for a significant decrease of nNOS-positive interneurons 2 weeks of birth. These results demonstrate that the expression of glial NGF and BDNF may play a key role for helping survival and maintenance of pyramidal neurons and neuronal functions in the hippocampal CA1 sector during aging processes. Furthermore, our findings suggest that parvalbumin- and nNOS-positive interneurons in the hippocampal CA1 sector are resistant to aging processes. Moreover, our findings suggest that nitric oxide synthesized by the nNOS may play some role for neuronal growth during postnatal development.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Treatment Prevents Delayed Effects of Early Life Stress in Rats

“…Different schedules of MS or species differences might explain these contrasting results. Although MS reduces PVB in the dentate gyrus of degus weanlings and increases PVB in other subcortical regions (14), our results in the hippocampus are consistent with previous evidence that PVB neither changes between weaning and adulthood in normal rats (68) nor is altered by MS (69). …”

Sustained high levels of neuregulin‐1 in the longest‐lived rodents; a key determinant of rodent longevity

“…There are a myriad of neurobiological changes that accompany aging. The decline in availability of growth factors (Hayakawa et al. , 2008) and neurotransmitters (Kelly et al.…”

A Ca2+‐binding protein with numerous roles and uses: parvalbumin in molecular biology and physiology

“…A latest research on this region of mice brain advocates that during ageing the number of PVpositive interneurons remains unchanged in the CA1 sector of the hippocampus, indicating that the PV-positive interneurons are resistant to age. (99) Hence, it can be speculated that to certain extent PVs could possibly preclude nervous tissue from ageing processes. Experiments indicate that PV expression is down-regulated in fast-twitch skeletal muscles of rats during ageing.…”