Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2016, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (11): 1564-1569.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2016.11.007

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Changes of mouse hippocampal neurogenesis during aging

Liu Pin-yue1, Jin Zhen-chao1, Deng Xiao-lan1, Yuan Li1, Zheng Min1, Wang Ya-ping1, Wang Jian2, Jiang Rong1
  

  1. 1Institute of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China; 2Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
  • Received:2016-01-13 Online:2016-03-11 Published:2016-03-11
  • Contact: Jiang Rong, Senior experimentalist, Institute of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
  • About author:Liu Pin-yue, Master, Institute of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
  • Supported by:

    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 31100985; Chongqing Natural Science Foundation, No. CSTC2010BB5096

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Abnormal hippocampal neurogenesis during aging has been reported to result in learning and memory dysfunction. But its mechanism is unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To understand the changes of mouse neurogenesis in the hippocampal subgranular zone during aging.
METHODS: C57BL/6 mice 2, 6 and 20 months of age were used. Immunochemistry was used to count the number of neural stem cells (nestin+), neuroblasts (Doublecortin+, DCX+), and proliferative cells (proliferating cell nuclear antigen+, PCNA+) in the hippocampal subgranular zone. mRNA expressions of aging-related genes, p19Arf and p21Cip1/Waf1, in the hippocampus were detected by reverse transcription-PCR.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the young and middle age groups, the number of PCNA+ cells, nestin+ and DCX+ cells in the hippocampal subgranular zone of the aged group decreased dramatically; the expression of p19Arf and p21Cip1/Waf1 mRNA increased in the aged group. Proliferation activity, the number of neural stem cells and neuronal differentiation all decreased. These findings indicate that the decline of hippocampal neurogenesis may be associated with increased expression of aging-related genes p19Arf and p21Cip1/Waf1 in the p19Arf-Mdm2-p53-p21Cip1/Waf1pathway.