AGING CHANGES OF NEUROTENSIN-LIKE AND GALANIN-LIKE NEURONS IN THE CENTRAL AMYGDALOID NUCLEUS OF THE RAT / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Aging changes of neurotensin-like (NT-L) and galanin-like (GAL-L) cell bodies and fiber terminals in the central amygdaloid nucleus between the young and old rats were studied by means of immunohistochemical and microspectrophotometric techniques. NT-L cell bodies were mainly located in the central part (CeLn) of, centrolateral amygdaloid nucleus, a few of NT-L neurons were also found in the centrolateral amygdaloid nucleus, capsular part (CeLc) and centromedial amygdaloid nucleus (CeM). NT-L fiber terminals were seen mainly in the CeLn and CeLc. GAL-L cell bodies were observed only in the CeM. A marked decrease of density of NT-L cell bodies and fiber terminals in the central amygdaloid nucleus was found in the old rats as compared with young animals. No significant age difference in number of GAL-L cell bodies was observed in the central amygdaloid nucleus, but the staining intensity of GAL-L cell bodies was reduced remarkably. The results show that there are apparent changes with aging of the NT-L and GAL-L neurons in the central amygdaloid nucleus of the rat. The significance of the changes remains to be studied further.