Morphological characteristics and expression of the S-100 protein in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum of a young and senile human

Abstract

The problem of aging of the human body and the prevention of age-associated diseases in modern scientific literature is devoted to many studies. Researchers are showing increased interest in the aging of the cerebellum. Purkinje cells, which form the ganglionic layer of the cerebellar cortex, are considered to be very sensitive to various influences.The aim is to reveal the morphofunctional features of the Purkinje cells of the human cerebellum in the senile age in comparison with the young age.Material and methods. Morphological study of the cerebellum of 59 men and 52 women, right-handed, with anamnestic data that excluded diseases and injuries of the organs of the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as alcohol or drug addiction, was carried out during autopsy. The material for the study was taken from the region of the inferior semilunar lobule of the cerebellum. The studied material was divided into two groups: group I (n=59) included samples obtained from 31 men and 28 young women (from 25 to 32 years old inclusive), group II (n=52) – from 28 men and 24 women of senile age (from 79 to 88 years inclusive). We used general and neurohistological, immunohistochemical and morphometric research methods. Morphological assessment of Purkinje cells was carried out and the distance between their bodies was determined. An immunohistochemical study used a panel of antibodies to the S-100 protein.Results. A comparative analysis of the data obtained showed a statistically significant predominance of the distance between the bodies of Purkinje cells in the elderly compared to the young. Immunohistochemical study revealed an increase in the number of S-100-immunopositive Purkinje cells in old age.Conclusion. New data have been obtained on the age-related structural transformation of the cytoarchitectonics of the human cerebellar nervous tissue, which must be taken into account when studying age-associated diseases and movement coordination disorders.