Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
08:32
Sex Differences in Mouse Hippocampal Astrocytes after In-Vitro Ischemia
Published on: October 25, 2016
12.9K
Aging in rodent brain: alteration in astrocyte population
1Department of Biology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233 USA.
Neurobiology of Aging
|November 28, 2013
Summary
Aging brain stem astrocytes show altered density, hindering isolation for biochemical analysis. This age-related shift in glial cells impacts cellular research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Astrocyte isolation is crucial for biochemical analysis.
- Aging affects cellular properties, potentially complicating cell preparation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in astrocyte buoyant density.
- To understand the impact of senescence on astrocyte isolation.
Main Methods:
- Modified glial cell isolation protocol.
- Utilized continuous diatrizoate gradients for density separation.
- Employed antiserum for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) for astrocyte identification.
Main Results:
- Astrocyte-enriched fractions from senescent mouse/rat brain stems were not recovered using the standard method.
- Senescent glial cells exhibited an altered buoyant density.
- GFAP-specific antiserum confirmed astrocyte involvement in the density shift.
Conclusions:
- Aging significantly alters astrocyte buoyant density in the brain stem.
- Standard astrocyte isolation methods are inadequate for senescent cells.
- Age-related changes in astrocyte density must be considered for biochemical studies.
