Glial cell morphological and density changes through the lifespan of rhesus macaques.

ABSTRACT: How aging impacts the central nervous system (CNS) is an area of intense interest. Glial morphology is known to affect neuronal and immune function as well as metabolic and homeostatic balance. Activation of glia, both astrocytes and microglia, occurs at several stages during development and aging. The present study analyzed changes in glial morphology and density through the entire lifespan of rhesus macaques, which are physiologically and anatomically similar to humans. We observed apparent increases in gray matter astrocytic process length and process complexity as rhesus macaques matured from juveniles through adulthood. These changes were not attributed to cell enlargement because they were not accompanied by proportional changes in soma or process volume. There was a decrease in whit

SUBMITTER: Robillard KN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4899176 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature