Astrocytes from adult Wistar rats aged in vitro show changes in glial functions

• Published in: Neurochemistry international Vol. 90; pp. 93 - 97
• Main Authors: Souza, Débora Guerini, Bellaver, Bruna, Raupp, Gustavo Santos, Souza, Diogo Onofre, Quincozes-Santos, André
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2015
• Subjects: Adult astrocytes; Aging; Animals; Antioxidants - metabolism; Astrocytes - cytology; Astrocytes aged in vitro; Brain - metabolism; Brain aging; Cells, Cultured; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein - metabolism; Glucose uptake; Glutamic Acid - metabolism; Glutamine synthetase activity; Glutathione; Male; Nerve Growth Factors - metabolism; Neuroglia - cytology; Rats, Wistar; Brain aging; Glucose uptake; Glutamine synthetase activity; Adult astrocytes; Astrocytes aged in vitro; Glutathione
• ISSN: 0197-0186; 1872-9754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2015.07.016

Astrocytes, the most versatile cells of the central nervous system, play an important role in the regulation of neurotransmitter homeostasis, energy metabolism, antioxidant defenses and the anti-inflammatory response. Recently, our group characterized cortical astrocyte cultures from adult Wistar rats. In line with that work, we studied glial function using an experimental in vitro model of aging astrocytes (30 days in vitro after reaching confluence) from newborn (NB), adult (AD) and aged (AG) Wistar rats. We evaluated metabolic parameters, such as the glucose uptake, glutamine synthetase (GS) activity, and glutathione (GSH) content, as well as the GFAP, GLUT-1 and xCT expression. AD and AG astrocytes take up less glucose than NB astrocytes and had decreased GLUT1 expression levels. Furthermore, AD and AG astrocytes exhibited decreased GS activity compared to NB cells. Simultaneously, AD and AG astrocytes showed an increase in GSH levels, along with an increase in xCT expression. NB, AD and AG astrocytes presented similar morphology; however, differences in GFAP levels were observed. Taken together, these results improve the knowledge of cerebral senescence and represent an innovative tool for brain studies of aging. •Astrocyte cultures from newborn, adult and aged Wistar rats aged in vitro were established.•Cultures 30 days in vitro after confluence present different glial properties.•Adult and aged astrocytes decreased glucose uptake and glutamine synthetase activity.•Adult and aged astrocytes increased glutathione content and xCT expression.