201. Brain regional angiogenic potential at the neurovascular unit during normal aging.
- Author
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Murugesan N, Demarest TG, Madri JA, and Pachter JS
- Subjects
- Animals, Cerebral Arteries physiology, Cerebrovascular Disorders genetics, Cerebrovascular Disorders physiopathology, Cerebrovascular Disorders therapy, Disease Models, Animal, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Aging physiology, Cerebral Arteries growth & development, Cerebrovascular Circulation physiology, Exercise Therapy methods, Neovascularization, Physiologic physiology, Physical Conditioning, Animal methods
- Abstract
Given strong regional specialization of the brain, cerebral angiogenesis may be regionally modified during normal aging. To test this hypothesis, expression of a broad cadre of angiogenesis-associated genes was assayed at the neurovascular unit (NVU) in discrete brain regions of young versus aged mice by laser capture microdissection coupled to quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Complementary quantitative capillary density/branching studies were performed as well. Effects of physical exercise were also assayed to determine if age-related trends could be reversed. Additionally, gene response to hypoxia was probed to highlight age-associated weaknesses in adapting to this angiogenic stress. Aging impacted resting expression of angiogenesis-associated genes at the NVU in a region-dependent manner. Physical exercise reversed some of these age-associated gene trends, as well as positively influenced cerebral capillary density/branching in a region-dependent way. Lastly, hypoxia revealed a weaker angiogenic response in aged brain. These results suggest heterogeneous changes in angiogenic capacity of the brain during normal aging, and imply a therapeutic benefit of physical exercise that acts at the level of the NVU., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2012
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