Age-related changes in the volume of somata and organelles of cerebellar granule cells

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1998

Authors

monteiro, raf (Author) Other; henrique, rmf (Author) Other; rocha, e (Author) ICBAS; marini-abreu, mm (Author) Other; oliveira, mh (Author) Other; silva, mw (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Neurobiology of Aging

Vol. 19

Pages: 325-332

ISSN: 0197-4580

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 13 Citations

Scopus - 13 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-7M2

DOI: 10.1016/s0197-4580(98)00064-5

Abstract (EN): Because cerebellar granule cells are fixed post-mitotic cells, it is expected that they undergo age-related changes like other neurons. To examine this possibility, a stereological study on granule cells of rat neocerebellar cortex was performed for an age spectrum of 2 to 24 months using eight different age groups. The nucleator method, together with point and intersection counting, was used to obtain primary data; arithmetical calculations determined the secondary data. In the soma, the absolute surface area did not change significantly; the volume did, however, exhibit a significant negative linear trend with age. Excluding dense bodies, the absolute volumes of the cytoplasmic components did not vary significantly. The absolute volume of dense bodies displayed a significant positive linear trend with age, significant positive correlations were detected between the somatic volume and the absolute Volume of either mitochondria or ground substance. It was concluded that granule cells showed a fair degree of morphological stability through 18 months. However, the observed changes warn that accompanying physiological alterations may occur, with putative effects on motor coordination. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8