Aging causes morphological alterations in astrocytes and microglia in human substantia nigra pars compacta

• Published in: Neurobiology of aging Vol. 36; no. 12; pp. 3321 - 3333
• Main Authors: Jyothi, H.J, Vidyadhara, D.J, Mahadevan, Anita, Philip, Mariamma, Parmar, Suresh Kumar, Manohari, S. Gowri, Shankar, S.K, Raju, Trichur R, Alladi, Phalguni Anand
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2015
• Subjects: 2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase - metabolism; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - pathology; Astrocytes - metabolism; Astrocytes - pathology; Autopsied human midbrains; Calcium - metabolism; Child; Child, Preschool; CNPase; Densitometry; Female; GFAP; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein - metabolism; Humans; Iba1; Infant; Internal Medicine; Male; Microglia - metabolism; Microglia - pathology; Middle Aged; Morphometry; Nerve Degeneration; Neurogenic Inflammation; Neurology; Parkinson Disease; Parkinson's disease; Pars Compacta - cytology; Pars Compacta - pathology; Risk Factors; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit - metabolism; S100β; Stereology; Young Adult; Parkinson's disease; Autopsied human midbrains; Stereology; Densitometry; CNPase; Iba1; Morphometry; S100β; GFAP
• ISSN: 0197-4580; 1558-1497
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.08.024

Abstract Age being a risk factor for Parkinson's disease, assessment of age-related changes in the human substantia nigra may elucidate its pathogenesis. Increase in Marinesco bodies, α-synuclein, free radicals and so forth in the aging nigral neurons are clear indicators of neurodegeneration. Here, we report the glial responses in aging human nigra. The glial numbers were determined on Nissl-stained sections. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, S100β, 2′, 3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′ phosphodiesterase, and Iba1 was assessed on cryosections of autopsied midbrains by immunohistochemistry and densitometry. The glial counts showed a biphasic increase, of which, the first prominent phase from fetal age to birth could be physiological gliogenesis whereas the second one after middle age may reflect mild age-related gliosis. Astrocytic morphology was altered, but glial fibrillary acidic protein expression increased only mildly. Presence of type-4 microglia suggests possibility of neuroinflammation. Mild reduction in 2′, 3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′ phosphodiesterase–labeled area denotes subtle demyelination. Stable age-related S100β expression indicates absence of calcium overload. Against the expected prominent gliosis, subtle age-related morphological alterations in human nigral glia attribute them a participatory role in aging.