Alterations of synaptic plasticity in aged rats: Evidence of functional and morphological studies

BACKGROUND: The aging-related disease and associated neurodegenerative complications, such as cognitive impairment, has received increasing attention. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to show changes in cognitive behavior and molecular related the synaptic plasticity in aged-induced cognitive deficits rats. METHODS: We used novel object recognition testing and morphological staining as well as western blot to detect changes in cognitive behavior and molecular related the synaptic plasticity. RESULTS: The morphological changes of synaptic structure and number on hippocampal neurons and learning and memory deficits were shown during natural aging. Moreover, learning and memory improvement was associated with alterations of hippocampal synaptic plasticity-related proteins, such as SNAP-25, synaptophysin, snapsoin-1 and so on, which distributes to cognitive decline in natural aging. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides more behavior and molecular evidence on relationship of cognitive deficits and aging.