Deficiencies of Ca2+ homeostasis are proposed to play an important role in
neuronal ageing and/or neurodegeneration. The aim of this study was to inve
stigate, in a defined neuronal population, primary cerebellar granule neuro
n culture, the time-dependent changes in Ca2+ homeostasis and compare them
with data obtained in cerebellar brain slices from aged rats. In neurons ag
ed in culture (DIV 23), a small decrease in the resting [Ca2+](i) was assoc
iated with a decrease in the maxima[ rate of [Ca2+](i) increase upon KCI-in
duced depolarization and in the amplitude of the [Ca2+](i) response, when c
ompared with mature neurons (DIV 9). The most significant change of [Ca2+](
i) signal parameters was a 50% decrease in the rate of [Ca2+](i) recovery a
fter the stimulation. These results were similar to those obtained in aged
brain slices, and indicate that primary neuronal cultures could serve as a
model for studying the age-related changes in Ca2+ homeostasis. NeuroReport
11:3725-3729 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.