Age-related focal loss of contractile vascular smooth muscle cells in retinal arterioles is accelerated by caveolin-1 deficiency.

ABSTRACT: Cerebral microcirculation is critical for the preservation of brain health, and vascular impairment is associated with age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Because the retina is a component of the central nervous system, cellular changes that occur in the aging retina are likely relevant to the aging brain, and the retina provides the advantage that the entire vascular bed is visible, en face. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that normal, healthy aging alters the contractile vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) coverage of retinal arterioles. We found that aging results in a significant reduction of contractile VSMCs in focal patches along arterioles. Focal loss of contractile VSMCs occurs at a younger age in mice deficient in the senescence-associated protein, caveolin-1. Age-rela

SUBMITTER: Reagan AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6162181 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature