Age-dependent differences in myelin basic protein expression in the hippocampus of young, adult and aged gerbils

• Published in: Laboratory animal research Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 237 - 243
• Main Authors: Ahn, Ji Hyeon, Lee, Tae-Kyeong, Park, Joon Ha, Cho, Jeong Hwi, Kim, In Hye, Lee, Jae Chul, Hong, Seongkweon, Jeon, Yong Hwan, Kang, Il Jun, Lee, Young Joo, Won, Moo-Ho, Lee, Choong-Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Korean Association for Laboratory Animal Science 01.09.2017; BMC; 한국실험동물학회
• Subjects: aging; gerbil; hippocampus; Myelin basic protein; Original; 수의학; aging; hippocampus; gerbil; Myelin basic protein
• ISSN: 1738-6055; 2233-7660
• DOI: 10.5625/lar.2017.33.3.237

Myelin degeneration is one of the characteristics of aging and degenerative diseases. This study investigated age-related alterations in expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) in the hippocampal subregions (dentate gyrus, CA2/3 and CA1 areas) of gerbils of various ages; young (1 month), adult (6 months) and aged (24 months), using western blot and immunohistochemistry. Western blot results showed tendencies of age-related reductions of MBP levels. MBP immunoreactivity was significantly decreased with age in synaptic sites of trisynaptic loops, perforant paths, mossy fibers, and Schaffer collaterals. In particular, MBP immunoreactive fibers in the dentate molecular cell layer (perforant path) was significantly reduced in adult and aged subjects. In addition, MBP immunoreactive mossy fibers in the dentate polymorphic layer and in the CA3 striatum radiatum was significantly decreased in the aged group. Furthermore, we observed similar age-related alterations in the CA1 stratum radiatum (Schaffer collaterals). However, the density of MBP immunoreactive fibers in the dentate granular cell layer and CA stratum pyramidale was decreased with aging. These findings indicate that expression of MBP is age-dependent and tissue specific according to hippocampal layers.