Abstract
Chronic treatment of rats with D-galactose (D-gal) can mimic brain aging process. In the present study, we investigated whether and how astrocytes undergo morphological alterations due to long-term D-gal exposure. After 8 weeks of daily subcutaneous injection of D-gal, total glial cells (marked by Holzer’s crystal violet staining) and astrocytes (marked by anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein immunohistochemical labeling) of the medulla of the motor area were comparatively analyzed in control and D-gal-treated rats. We found a significant increase in the quantity of both total glial cells and astrocytes, with a higher ratio of astrocytes to total glial cells in the experimental group than the control; astrocytic body size, process number and area, and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactive intensity were also increased in D-gal-treated animals. Our present study provides direct evidence that chronic administration of D-gal enhances brain astrocytic activities, which may exert compensatory functions on D-gal-induced deteriorative neurons.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hua, X., Lei, M., Zhang, Y., Ding, J., Han, Q., Hu, G., and Xiao, M., Life Sci., 2007, vol. 80, pp. 1897–1905.
Lu, J., Zheng, Y.L., Wu, D.M., Luo, L., Sun, D.X., and Shan, Q., Biochem. Pharmacol., 2007, vol. 74, pp. 1078–1090.
Kumar, A., Prakash, A., and Dogra, S., Int. J. Alzheimers Dis., 2011, vol. 2011, pp. 347–569.
Du, Z., Yang, Y., Hu, Y., Sun, Y., Zhang, S., Peng, W., Zhong, Y., Huang, X., and Kong, W., Hear. Res., 2012, vol. 287, pp. 15–24.
Cui, X., Zuo, P., Zhang, Q., Li, X., Hu, Y., Long, J., Packer, L., and Liu, J., J. Neurosci. Res., 2006, vol. 84, pp. 647–654.
Roser, M., Josic, D., Kontou, M., Mosetter, K., Maurer, P., and Reutter, W., J. Neural. Transm., 2009, vol. 116, pp. 131–139.
Hsieh, H.M., Wu, W.M., and Hu, M.L., Life Sci., 2011, vol. 88, pp. 82–88.
Xiao, F., Li, X.G., Zhang, X.Y., Hou, J.D., Lin, L.F., Gao, Q., and Luo, H.M., Neurosci. Bull., 2011, vol. 27, pp. 143–155.
Wang, W., Li, S., Dong, H.P., Lv, S., and Tang, Y.Y., Life Sci., 2009, vol. 85, pp. 127–135.
Fiacco, T.A., Agulhon, C., and McCarthy, K.D., Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 2009, vol. 49, pp. 151–174.
Santello, M. and Volterra, A., Neuroscience, 2009, vol. 158, pp. 253–259.
Orellana, J.A., von Bernhardi, R., Giaume, C., and Sáez, J.C., Rev. Neurosci., 2012, vol. 23, pp. 163–177.
Peters, A. and Kemper, T., Neurobiol. Aging., 2012, vol. 33, pp. 2357–2372.
Kumar, S., Jin, M., Ande, A., Sinha, N., Silverstein, P.S., and Kumar, A., Expert Opin. Drug. Metab. Toxicol., 2012, vol. 8, pp. 1363–1375.
Cavallotti, C., Cavallotti, D., Pescosolido, N., and Pacella, E., Anat. Histol. Embryol., 2003, vol. 32, pp. 12–16.
Chen, C.F., Lang, S.Y., Zuo, P.P., Yang, N., Wang, X.Q., and Xia, C., Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2006, vol. 31, pp. 805–811.
Lei, M., Hua, X., Xiao, M., Ding, J., Han, Q. and Hu, G., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 2008, vol. 369, pp. 1082–1087.
Parameshwaran, K., Irwin, M.H., Steliou, K., and Pinkert, C.A., Rejuvenation Res., 2010, vol. 13, pp. 729–735.
Reynolds, A., Laurie, C., Mosley, R.L., and Gendelman, H.E., Int. Rev. Neurobiol., 2007, vol. 82, pp. 297–325.
Wu, W., Li, M., Liu, L., Gao, J., Kong, H., Ding, J., Hu, G., and Xiao, M., Life Sci., 2011, vol. 89, pp. 355–363.
Volterra, A. and Meldolesi, J., Nat. Rev. Neurosci., 2005, vol. 6, pp. 626–640.
Seifert, G., Schilling, K., and Steinhäuser, C., Nat. Rev. Neurosci., 2006, vol. 7, pp. 194–206.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
The article is published in the original.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, X., Luo, Y. & Sun, H. Chronic administration of D-galactose enhances astrocytic activities in rat cerebral medulla. Neurochem. J. 8, 33–37 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1819712414010140
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1819712414010140