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Volumetric changes in the aging rat brain and its impact on cognitive and locomotor functions

Hamezah HS 1 , Durani LW 2 , Ibrahim NF 3 , Yanagisawa D 4 , Kato T 5 , Shiino A 6 Show all authors , Tanaka S 7 , Damanhuri HA 8 , Ngah WZW 9 , Tooyama I 10

Affiliations 

  • 1 Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu 520-2192, Japan. Electronic address: hamiza49@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp
  • 2 Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu 520-2192, Japan. Electronic address: lina@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp
  • 3 Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu 520-2192, Japan; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, UKMMC, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: nor.faeizah.ibrahim@ppukm.ukm.edu.my
  • 4 Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu 520-2192, Japan. Electronic address: daijiroy@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp
  • 5 Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu 520-2192, Japan. Electronic address: tkato@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp
  • 6 Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu 520-2192, Japan. Electronic address: shiino@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp
  • 7 Department of Medical Statistics, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu 520-2192, Japan. Electronic address: sachikot@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp
  • 8 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, UKMMC, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: hanafi.damanhuri@ppukm.ukm.edu.my
  • 9 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, UKMMC, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: wwanzurinah@yahoo.com
  • 10 Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu 520-2192, Japan. Electronic address: kinchan@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp
Exp Gerontol, 2017 12 01;99:69-79.
PMID: 28918364 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2017.09.008

Abstract

Impairments in cognitive and locomotor functions usually occur with advanced age, as do changes in brain volume. This study was conducted to assess changes in brain volume, cognitive and locomotor functions, and oxidative stress levels in middle- to late-aged rats. Forty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: 14, 18, 23, and 27months of age. 1H magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed using a 7.0-Tesla MR scanner system. The volumes of the lateral ventricles, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), hippocampus, striatum, cerebellum, and whole brain were measured. Open field, object recognition, and Morris water maze tests were conducted to assess cognitive and locomotor functions. Blood was taken for measurements of malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl content, and antioxidant enzyme activity. The lateral ventricle volumes were larger, whereas the mPFC, hippocampus, and striatum volumes were smaller in 27-month-old rats than in 14-month-old rats. In behavioral tasks, the 27-month-old rats showed less exploratory activity and poorer spatial learning and memory than did the 14-month-old rats. Biochemical measurements likewise showed increased MDA and lower glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in the 27-month-old rats. In conclusion, age-related increases in oxidative stress, impairment in cognitive and locomotor functions, and changes in brain volume were observed, with the most marked impairments observed in later age.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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