Aging reduces calreticulin expression and alters spontaneous calcium signals in astrocytic endfeet of the mouse dorsolateral striatum.

ABSTRACT: Aging-related impairment of the blood brain barrier (BBB) and neurovascular unit (NVU) increases the risk for neurodegeneration. Among various cells that participate in BBB and NVU function, calcium signals in astrocytic endfeet are crucial for maintaining BBB and NVU integrity. To assess if aging is associated with altered calcium signals within astrocytic endfeet of the dorsolateral striatum (DLS), we expressed GCaMP6f in DLS astrocytes of young (3-4 months), middle-aged (12-15 months) and aging (20-30 months) mice. Compared to endfeet in young mice, DLS endfeet in aging mice demonstrated decreased calreticulin expression, and alterations to both spontaneous membrane-associated and mitochondrial calcium signals. While young mice required both extracellular and endoplasmic reticulum calci

SUBMITTER: Zarate SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10066375 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature