Morphological and mitochondrial changes in murine choroid plexus epithelial cells during healthy aging

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cell Biology
• Aging Research

Background:

• Choroid plexuses (ChPs) form the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, crucial for brain homeostasis.
• ChP dysfunction is linked to neurodegenerative disease progression.
• Understanding ChP aging is vital for brain health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map morpho-functional changes in ChP epithelial cells during aging in mice.
• To investigate age-related alterations from young adulthood to 2 years old.
• To correlate structural and functional changes in aging ChP.

Main Methods:

• Utilized transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and 2-photon microscopy (2-PM).
• Employed immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, and Western Blot.
• Analyzed ChP tissues at multiple timepoints in aging mice.

Main Results:

• Identified epithelial flattening, reduced microvilli, and increased tight junction interruptions from 8-12 months.
• Observed decreased mitochondrial density, elongated mitochondria, increased superoxide, and reduced membrane potential in aged mice.
• Noted that most changes occurred without significant gene/protein expression shifts, and aged mitochondria remained responsive.

Conclusions:

• Aging induces progressive morpho-functional changes in mouse choroid plexus epithelium.
• Structural remodeling of the ChP occurs throughout the aging process.
• Findings offer insights into the correlation between ChP rearrangements and aging.