Increase in number of the gap junctions between satellite neuroglial cells during lifetime: An ultrastructural study in rabbit spinal ganglia from youth to extremely advanced age
- 作者：C. Martinelli ; P. Sartori ; S. De Palo ; M. Ledda and E. Pannese
- 关键词：Aging ; Dorsal root ganglia ; Neuron– ; glia interactions ; Peripheral neuroglia
- 刊名：Brain Research Bulletin
- 出版年：2005
- 期刊代码：9_03619230
- 类别：neu
- 出版时间：2005
- 卷：67
- 期：1-2
- 页码：19-23
- 文件大小：341 K
摘要
This study investigated quantitative aspects of the gap junctions between satellite neuroglial cells that envelope the spinal ganglion neurons in rabbits aged 1 year (young), 3.6 years (adult), 6.7 years (old), and 8.8 years (very old). Both the total number of gap junctions present in 30,000 μm<sup>2sup> of surface area occupied by perineuronal satellite cells, and the density of these junctions increased throughout life, including the extremely advanced age. By contrast, the mean length of individual gap junctions did not change with age. Thus, the junctional system which provides morphological support for the metabolic cooperation between satellite cells in rabbit spinal ganglia becomes more extensive as the age of the animal increases. These results support the hypothesis that the gap junctions between perineuronal satellite cells are involved in the spatial buffering of extracellular K<sup>+sup> and in neuroprotection.