Brief Communication
Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism (2009) 29, 230–234; doi:10.1038/jcbfm.2008.127; published online 29 October 2008
Aging and sedentarism decrease vascularization and VEGF levels in the rat substantia nigra. Implications for Parkinson's disease
This study was supported by Spanish Ministry of Education (MEC), Spanish Ministry of Health (RD06/0010/0013 and CIBERNED), and Galician Government (XUGA).
Begoña Villar-Cheda1,2, Daniel Sousa-Ribeiro1,2, Jannette Rodriguez-Pallares1,2, Ana I Rodriguez-Perez1,2, Maria J Guerra1,2 and Jose L Labandeira-Garcia1,2
- 1Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Experimental Neurology, Department of Morphological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- 2Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
Correspondence: Dr JL Labandeira-Garcia, Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Experimental Neurology, Department of Morphological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain. E-mail: joseluis.labandeira@usc.es
Received 30 July 2008; Revised 8 September 2008; Accepted 4 October 2008; Published online 29 October 2008.
Abstract
It is not known if aging induces changes in nigral vascularization and nigral vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels similar to those previously reported for Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study nonexercised rats displayed age-dependent decreases in the density of nigral microvessels and VEGF mRNA expression, which were reversed by physical exercise. Such changes may enhance the vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons and the risk of developing PD, and may be reduced by exercise. Furthermore, the observed pattern is the opposite of that previously observed in PD, suggesting that the process underlying PD is not an accelerated age-dependent decline in the dopaminergic system.
Keywords:
aging, angiogenesis, dopaminergic, exercise, neurodegeneration, neuroprotection
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