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Effects of aging on neurons and glial cells from the superficial layers of the superior colliculus in rats
Author(s) -
Díaz Florentina,
Moreno Paloma,
Villena Alicia,
Vidal Lourdes,
Pérez De Vargas Ignacio
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.10404
Subject(s) - superior colliculus , stratum , atrophy , neuron , biology , stereology , anatomy , neuroscience , endocrinology , paleontology , genetics
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aging on glial cells and neurons from the superficial layers of the superior colliculus in rats. We used stereological methods to estimate the volume of the superficial layers, neuron size, and the number of neurons and glial cells in Wistar male rats aged 3, 24, 26, and 28 months. A 32.6% volume increase was found in the stratum griseum superficiale between the ages of 3 and 26 months, while in the 28‐month‐old animals a 19% decrease was observed. The stratum opticum did not show any changes in volume with age. Also, our analysis revealed a process of somatic and nuclear atrophy in the neurons of the superficial layers in animals aged 26 and 28 months. On the other hand, no statistically significant differences were found in the numbers of neurons. The number of glial cells in the stratum griseum superficiale showed an increase between the 3rd and 26th month, while the stratum opticum suffered no change. Microsc. Res. Tech. 62:431–438, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.