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Effect of aging on cortical spreading depression
R C Guedes1, L F Amorim, N R Teodósio
1Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brasil.
Summary
Aging significantly reduces spreading depression (SD) velocity in gerbils and rats, with gerbils showing higher susceptibility. This age-related decline may involve free radicals, suggesting a potential role in cortical spreading depression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Aging Research
- Physiology
Background:
- Spreading depression (SD) is a wave of neuronal and glial depolarization.
- Aging is known to affect various physiological processes, but its impact on SD propagation is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of aging on the velocity of cortical spreading depression (SD) in Mongolian gerbils and albino rats.
- To explore the potential role of free radicals in age-related changes in SD propagation.
Main Methods:
- SD was induced using KCl application on the cortical surface in gerbils and rats of varying ages.
- SD propagation velocity was measured using electrocorticography (ECoG) and DC potential recordings.
- Separate experiments involved feeding animals diets devoid of antioxidant vitamins C and E to assess the role of free radicals.
Main Results:
- Older animals exhibited significantly lower SD velocities compared to younger animals across all species, strains, and diets.
- Gerbils consistently showed higher SD velocities than age-matched rats.
- Animals fed a diet lacking antioxidant vitamins C and E displayed no correlation between age and SD velocity, unlike control groups.
Conclusions:
- Cortical spreading depression susceptibility decreases with aging in both gerbils and rats.
- Gerbils demonstrate higher SD susceptibility than rats.
- The findings suggest a potential involvement of free radicals in the age-related decline of cortical SD propagation.