Open Access

Age-dependent changes in vesicular glutamate transporter 1 and 2 expression in the gerbil hippocampus

  • Authors:
    • Hyo Young Jung
    • Dae Young Yoo
    • Joon Ha Park
    • Jong Whi Kim
    • Jin Young Chung
    • Dae Won Kim
    • Moo‑Ho Won
    • Yeo Sung Yoon
    • In Koo Hwang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 8, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.8705
  • Pages: 6465-6471
  • Copyright: © Jung et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter that is stored in vesicles located in the presynaptic terminal. Glutamate is transported into vesicles via the vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT). In the present study, the age‑associated changes of the major VGLUTs, VGLUT1 and VGLUT2, in the hippocampus were investigated, based on immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis at postnatal month 1 (PM1; adolescent), PM6, PM12 (adult group), PM18 and PM24 (the aged groups). VGLUT1 immunoreactivity was primarily detected in the mossy fibers, Schaffer collaterals and stratum lacunosum‑moleculare. By contrast, VGLUT2 immunoreactivity was observed in the granule cell layer and the outer molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, stratum pyramidale, Schaffer collaterals and stratum lacunosum‑moleculare in the hippocampal CA1‑3 regions. VGLUT1 immunoreactivity and protein levels remained constant across all age groups. However, VGLUT2 immunoreactivity and protein levels decreased in the PM3 group when compared with the PM1 group. VGLUT2 immunoreactivity and protein levels were not altered in the PM12 group; however, they increased in the PM18 group. In addition, in the PM18 group, highly immunoreactive VGLUT2 cells were also identified in the stratum radiatum and oriens of the hippocampal CA1 region. In the PM24 group, VGLUT2 immunoreactivity and protein levels were significantly decreased and were the lowest levels observed amongst the different groups. These results suggested that VGLUT1 may be less susceptible to the aging process; however, the increase of VGLUT2 in the non‑pyramidal cells in the PM18 group, and the consequent decrease in VGLUT2, may be closely linked to age‑associated memory impairment in the hippocampus.
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May-2018
Volume 17 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Jung HY, Yoo DY, Park JH, Kim JW, Chung JY, Kim DW, Won MH, Yoon YS and Hwang IK: Age-dependent changes in vesicular glutamate transporter 1 and 2 expression in the gerbil hippocampus. Mol Med Rep 17: 6465-6471, 2018
APA
Jung, H.Y., Yoo, D.Y., Park, J.H., Kim, J.W., Chung, J.Y., Kim, D.W. ... Hwang, I.K. (2018). Age-dependent changes in vesicular glutamate transporter 1 and 2 expression in the gerbil hippocampus. Molecular Medicine Reports, 17, 6465-6471. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.8705
MLA
Jung, H. Y., Yoo, D. Y., Park, J. H., Kim, J. W., Chung, J. Y., Kim, D. W., Won, M., Yoon, Y. S., Hwang, I. K."Age-dependent changes in vesicular glutamate transporter 1 and 2 expression in the gerbil hippocampus". Molecular Medicine Reports 17.5 (2018): 6465-6471.
Chicago
Jung, H. Y., Yoo, D. Y., Park, J. H., Kim, J. W., Chung, J. Y., Kim, D. W., Won, M., Yoon, Y. S., Hwang, I. K."Age-dependent changes in vesicular glutamate transporter 1 and 2 expression in the gerbil hippocampus". Molecular Medicine Reports 17, no. 5 (2018): 6465-6471. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.8705