Age-related Changes in Doublecortin Immunoreactivity and Its Protein Levels in the Dog Main Olfactory Bulb

초록

Doublecortin (DCX), a microtubule-associated protein, expresses specifically in neuronal precursorsand used as a marker for neuronal precursors and neurogenesis. In the present study, we observed differences in DCXimmunoreactivity and its protein levels in the main olfactory bulb (MOB) of young adult, middle-aged and aged dogs. In the young adult dog, DCX-immunoreactive cells with well-stained processes were detected in the MOB. DCXimmunoreactive cells were decreased in the MOB of middle-aged dog. In the aged dog, DCX immunoreactive cellswere more decreased compared to that in the MOB of middle-aged dog. DCX protein level in the dog MOB was alsosignificantly decreased with age. These results suggest that reductions of DCX immunoreactivity and protein levels inthe aged MOB may be involved in some neural deficits related to olfactory impairment in the aged dog.

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