Age-dependent increase in the expression of antioxidant-like protein-1 in the gerbil hippocampus

Abstract

Antioxidant-like protein-1 (AOP-1) reduces the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species. In the present study, the age-related change in AOP-1 expression in the hippocampus among young, adult and aged gerbils was compared using western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrated that the protein expression of AOP-1 was gradually and significantly increased in the hippocampus during the normal aging process. In addition, the age-dependent increase in AOP-1 immunoreactivity was also observed in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus proper; however, in the dentate gyrus, AOP-1 immunoreactivity was not altered during the normal aging process. These results indicated that the expression of AOP-1 is significantly increased in the hippocampus proper, but not in the dentate gyrus, during the normal aging process.

Age‑dependent decrease of Nurr1 protein expression in the gerbil hippocampus

“…As part of the normal aging process, neuroanatomical and neurophysiological changes occur in the central nervous system (CNS) ( 1 , 2 ), and our group previously reported age-dependent increase in antioxidant-like protein-1 expression in the gerbil hippocampus ( 3 ). In the brain, normal aging affects the functions of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, which may serve important roles in the initiation of long-term potentiation and be associated with age-related decline in memory ( 4 , 5 ).…”