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Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology
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Radiation induces age-dependent deficits in cortical synaptic plasticity
Die Zhang1, Wei Zhou1, Thanh Thai Lam1
1Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Neuro-Oncology
|April 17, 2018
Summary
Cranial radiation impairs brain plasticity, affecting cognitive function differently in juveniles and adults. Memantine pretreatment offers partial protection against these age-dependent effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Radiation Oncology
- Pediatric Oncology
Background:
- Cranial irradiation for brain tumors can cause cognitive dysfunction, particularly in pediatric patients.
- Mechanisms behind age-dependent cognitive deficits after radiation are not fully understood.
- Previous research focused on memory deficits; attention and executive function impairments are also observed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-dependent deficits in cortical synaptic plasticity induced by brain irradiation.
- To explore the role of glutamate toxicity and the neuroprotective potential of memantine.
Main Methods:
- Assessed long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal-prefrontal cortex (PFC) pathway in juvenile and adult rats post-irradiation.
- Administered memantine before and after irradiation to evaluate its neuroprotective effects.
Main Results:
- Irradiation significantly inhibited LTP in both age groups at 3 days.
- LTP recovery by 8 weeks was observed only in adult rats.
- Memantine pretreatment partially protected against LTP inhibition in both juveniles and adults.
Conclusions:
- Cranial radiation impairs hippocampal-PFC pathway neuroplasticity in an age-dependent manner.
- Cortical plasticity deficits may contribute to cognitive dysfunction and age-related sensitivity.
- Memantine pretreatment shows promise in mitigating radiation-induced neuroplasticity impairments.
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