Increases in size and myelination of the rat corpus callosum during adulthood are maintained into old age

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 1142; pp. 13 - 18
• Main Authors: Yates, M.A, Juraska, J.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier B.V 20-04-2007; Amsterdam Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aging; Aging - physiology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Growth Processes; Corpus Callosum - anatomy & histology; Corpus Callosum - physiology; Development. Senescence. Regeneration. Transplantation; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genu; Male; Myelin Sheath - physiology; Myelination; Neurology; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Sex differences; Sex Factors; Splenium; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Splenium; Aging; Sex differences; Myelination; Genu; Human; Senescence; Rat; Rodentia; Sex; Corpus callosum; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; Adult; Elderly
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2007.01.043

Abstract Although there are indications of growth in the size and myelination of the rat corpus callosum during adulthood, it is not known how long this growth continues. In addition, the potential for age-related changes in these measures to affect the sex differences seen in adulthood has not been examined. Here the size of callosal subregions and area occupied by myelin were examined in the genu and splenium of male and female rats in adulthood, middle age and old age. Our findings revealed increases both in size and in the area composed of myelin between adulthood and middle age that were maintained into old age, with no indications of age-related loss in either the genu or splenium of the rat.