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Age-related changes in rat cerebellar basket cells: a quantitative study using unbiased stereological methods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2001

RUI M. F. HENRIQUE ,
EDUARDO ROCHA ,
ALCINDA REIS ,
RICARDO MARCOS ,
MARIA H. OLIVEIRA ,
MARIA W. SILVA  and
ROGÉRIO A. F. MONTEIRO
RUI M. F. HENRIQUE
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Oporto, Portugal
EDUARDO ROCHA
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Oporto, Portugal
ALCINDA REIS
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Oporto, Portugal
RICARDO MARCOS
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Oporto, Portugal
MARIA H. OLIVEIRA
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Oporto, Portugal
MARIA W. SILVA
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Oporto, Portugal
ROGÉRIO A. F. MONTEIRO
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Oporto, Portugal
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Abstract

Cortical cerebellar basket cells are stable postmitotic cells; hence, they are liable to endure age-related changes. Since the cerebellum is a vital organ for the postural control, equilibrium and motor coordination, we aimed to determine the quantitative morphological changes in those interneurons with the ageing process, using unbiased techniques. Material from the cerebellar cortex (Crus I and Crus II) was collected from female rats aged 2, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 mo (5 animals per each age group), fixed by intracardiac perfusion, and processed for transmission electron microscopy, using conventional techniques. Serial semithin sections were obtained (5 blocks from each rat), enabling the determination of the number-weighted mean nuclear volume (by the nucleator method). On ultrathin sections, 25 cell profiles from each animal were photographed. The volume density of the nucleus, ground substance, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus (Golgi) and dense bodies (DB), and the mean surface density of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) were determined, by point counting, using a morphometric grid. The mean total volumes of the soma and organelles and the mean total surface area of the RER [SN (RER)] were then calculated. The results were analysed with 1-way ANOVA; posthoc pairwise comparisons of group means were performed using the Newman-Keuls test. The relation between age and each of the parameters was studied by regression analysis. Significant age-related changes were observed for the mean volumes of the soma, ground substance, Golgi, DB, and SN (RER). Positive linear trends were found for the mean volumes of the ground substance, Golgi, and DB; a negative linear trend was found for the SN (RER). These results indicate that rat cerebellar basket cells endure important age-related changes. The significant decrease in the SN (RER) may be responsible for a reduction in the rate of protein synthesis. Additionally, it may be implicated in a cascade of events leading to cell damage due to the excitotoxic activity of glutamate, which could interfere in the functioning of the complex cerebellar neuronal network.

Keywords

Cerebellumageingstereologynucleatordisector
Type
Papers
Information
The Journal of Anatomy , Volume 198 , Issue 6 , June 2001 , pp. 727 - 736
Copyright
© Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2001

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