Changes in vasopressin cells of the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus with aging

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is considered to be the endogenous clock of the mammalian brain, regulating circadian rhythmicity of a great number of physiological and behavioural parameters. Numerous studies have shown that the circadian organization in the rat is progressively disturbed in senescence. However, a recent study by Peng et al.17 using conventionally stained material, revealed no decrease in overall SCN cell number of senescent rats. Their results have now been confirmed in this study. In addition, an increase in SCN volume (P = 0.02) and nucleus diameter (P = 0.001) and an overall decrease in cell density (P = 0.006) was observed. All these parameters seem to confirm the absence of a general degeneration in the senescent SCN. However, the major aim of the present study was to determine whether a well-defined population of neurons, i.e. the vasopressinergic (AVP) cells of the SCN, shows changes with aging. Immunocytochemical staining with antivasopressin and morphometry revealed a decrease of 31% (P = 0.007) in the number of these SCN neurons, whereas the remaining vasopressin cells became larger (P = 0.001). There were no statistical significant differences between rats housed in standard cages and those housed in an enriched environment in either age group, but the groups were relative small. Changes in either the number or stainability of SCN vasopressin neurons may be a morphological correlate of changed circadian rhythms in senescence.