Affiliations: Institut für Anatomie III, Klinikum der
JWG-Universität, 60590 Frankfurt/Main, Germany | Department of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Klinikum der
JWG-Universität, 60590 Frankfurt/Main, Germany | Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, San Antonio,
TX, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. A. Rami, Anatomie III,
Universitätsklinikum, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Tel.: +49 69 63016929; Fax: +49 69 63016920; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Purpose: During ageing, there may be an age-associated loss of
particular nerve cells in specific brain areas. Recent studies highlight the
role of apoptosis in the normal ageing of the brain, heart, and skeletal
muscle. Particular attention is paid to the role of cytochrome c release from
mitochondria and alterations in the pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, Bax and
Bcl-2, respectively. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential
occurrence of apoptosis in the hippocampus of aged baboons. Methods: we have used the baboon as a potential non-human primate
model for age-related pathology which afflicts the human brain. The TUNEL
staining method was used to characterise the apoptotic cell death. For
immunocytochemistry, antibodies directed against activated caspase-3,
cytochrome c, Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were used. Results: Our results show that in hippocampi of aged baboons the
immunoreactivities of the antiapoptotic agent Bcl-2 was not prominently
changed, of the proapoptotic agent Bax was upregulated, of the cytochrome c was
redistributed, and that caspase-3 was not activated. The TUNEL-staining method
revealed no apoptotic cell death in hippocampi of aged baboons. Conclusions: This demonstrates that a specific alteration of the
Bax/Bcl2 ratio occurs in the ageing baboon hippocampus which may directly
influence the release of cytochrome c even without commitment to apoptosis.
