AGE-RELATED-CHANGES IN GALANIN-IMMUNOREACTIVE CELLS OF THE RAT MEDIAL SEPTAL AREA

Age-related changes in the cholinergic cells have been reported in the rat medial septal area. The neuropeptide galanin is colocalized with acetylcholine in the majority of the medial septal neurons. To assess possible age-related changes in the galanin-containing septal cells, we have examined, with immunohistochemical methods, the distribution pattern, density, and morphological features of galanin-containing cells in the rat medial septal nucleus (MS) and the nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca (DBB) in 1, 3-6, 9-12, 16-18, 24-27, and 28-30 month-old rats. A morphometric computerized analysis was also performed. In addition, the intensity of the immunolabelling was measured by densitometry. Galanin-like immunoreactivity (galanin-LI) was present in both the MS and the DBB. Our results clearly indicate a progressive age-related decrease in the number of galanin-positive cells throughout the MS-DBB complex. Our quantitative study revealed a significant loss of galanin-positive cells in the MS-DBB complex of 16-18 (50.4%), 24-27 (52.3%), and 28-30 (52.4%) month-old rats compared to 3-6 month-old animals. A non-significant reduction (28.6%) in galanin-LI cell number was observed in 3-6 month-old rats compared to 1 month-old animals. The morphometric analysis demonstrated a significant reduction (18%) in the surface of galanin-positive cells remaining in the 28-30 month-old group. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the immunolabelling intensity was consistently observed in animals of 16 month-old and older. To determine whether changes in galanin-positive cells were associated with cholinergic changes, the number of cells stained for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was estimated in 3-6, 9-12, 16-18, and 24-27 month-old rats. There was a 43% decrease in the number of AChE-positive cells and a 71% loss of galanin-positive cells in 24-27 month-old rats compared to 3-6 month-old. The galanin-cell loss in the medial septal area was therefore associated with a parallel, although smaller, cholinergic septal cell loss.