LIFELONG DIETARY RESTRICTION ATTENUATES AGE-RELATED INCREASES IN HIPPOCAMPAL GLIAL FIBRILLARY ACIDIC PROTEIN MESSENGER-RNA

The expression of astrocyte-specific glial fibrillary acidic protein i ncreases after experimental lesions and is elevated throughout the bra in in aged rodents and primates. Clusterin (ApoJ) expression increases in astrocytes and microglia after lesions, but changes during aging h ave not been reported. Dietary restriction (DR) delays the onset and p rogression of many age-related physiological deficits in rodents. This study showed that the age-related increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein mRNA in the hippocampus was attenuated in 24-month-old male F ischer 344 rats subjected to a 50% DR beginning at 6 weeks of age. Apo J mRNA expression in astrocytes was unchanged by DR. These results dem onstrate that DR can delay neurodegeneration in aged rats as assessed by a marker of reactive astrogliosis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.