Immunoreactivity of calcium-binding proteins in the central auditory nervous system of aged rats

While many factors contribute to aging, changes in calcium homeostasis and calcium related neuronal processes are likely to be important. High intracellular calcium is toxic to cells and alterations in calcium homeostasis are associated with changes in calcium-binding proteins, which confine free Ca(2+). We therefore assayed the expression of the calcium binding proteins calretinin and calbindin in the central auditory nervous system of rats.

Using antibodies to calretinin and calbindin, we assayed their expression in the cochlear nucleus, superior olivary nucleus, inferior colliculus, medial geniculate body and auditory cortex of young (4 months old) and aged (24 months old) rats.

Calretinin and calbindin staining intensity in neurons of the cochlear nucleus was significantly higher in aged than in young rats (p<0.05) The number and staining intensity of calretinin-positive neurons in the inferior colliculus, and of calbindin-positive neurons in the superior olivary nucleus were greater in aged than in young rats (p<0.05).

These results suggest that auditory processing is altered during aging, which may be due to increased intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, consequently leading to increased immunoreactivity toward calcium-binding proteins.