Age‑dependent decrease of Nurr1 protein expression in the gerbil hippocampus

Ahn,Ji  Hyeon; Lee,Joon  Seok; Cho,Jun  Hwi; Park,Joon  Ha; Lee,Tae‑Kyeong; Song,Minah; Kim,Hyunjung; Kang,Seok  Hoon; Won,Moo‑Ho; Lee,Choong  Hyun

doi:10.3892/br.2018.1094

Age‑dependent decrease of Nurr1 protein expression in the gerbil hippocampus

Authors:
- Ji Hyeon Ahn
- Joon Seok Lee
- Jun Hwi Cho
- Joon Ha Park
- Tae‑Kyeong Lee
- Minah Song
- Hyunjung Kim
- Seok Hoon Kang
- Moo‑Ho Won
- Choong Hyun Lee
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Affiliations: Department of Biomedical Science and Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon 24252, Republic of Korea, Department of Emergency Medicine and Institute of Medical Sciences, Kangwon National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon 24341, Republic of Korea, Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon 24341, Republic of Korea, Department of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon 24341, Republic of Korea, Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Dankook University, Cheonan, Chungcheongnam 31116, Republic of Korea
Published online on: May 4, 2018 https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2018.1094
Pages: 517-522

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Abstract

Nuclear receptor related‑1 protein (Nurr1) serves important roles in hippocampal‑dependent cognitive process. In the present study, the protein expression of Nurr1 was compared in the hippocampi of young [postnatal month 3 (PM 3)], adult (PM 12) and aged (PM 24) gerbils using western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Results indicated that the protein level of Nurr1 was significantly and gradually decreased in the gerbil hippocampus with increasing age. In addition, strong Nurr1 immunoreactivity was primarily observed in pyramidal neurons and granule cells of the hippocampus in the young group, which was determined to be reduced in the adult group and to a greater extent in the aged group. Collectively the data demonstrated that Nurr1 immunoreactivity was gradually and markedly decreased during normal aging. These results indicate that gradual decrease of Nurr1 expression in the hippocampus may be associated with the normal aging process and a decline in hippocampus‑dependent cognitive function.

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