Age-changes of brain synapses and synaptic plasticity in response to an enriched environment

Numerical synaptic density and synaptic vesicle density in rat frontal cortex were examined by electron microscopy as a function of age. The density of axospinous synapses, a major population of synapses, was found to peak at age 1 month, and to gradually decrease with aging. The synaptic vesicle density in axospinous synapses was shown to rapidly increase to a peak during the first 3 weeks and then decrease to the adult level, which remained unchanged in senescence. The time course of synaptic changes in aging is presented in this study. In a previous report (Saito et al. [1994] J. Neurosci. Res. 39:57-62), we showed that enriched rearing conditions restored the age-related decrease of synaptophysin contents. This might be due to increased numerical synaptic density or enhanced packing density of synaptic vesicles in synapses. The results of the present study support the latter explanation; that is, synaptic vesicle contents were increased without changes in synaptic density. Synaptic plasticity induced by environmental stimulation is shown to relate with synaptic strengthening, but not with the formation of new synapses.