Effect of hindlimb unloading on stereological parameters of the motor cortex and hippocampus in male rats. Issue 16 (9th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Salehi, Mohammad Saied; Mirzaii-Dizgah, Iraj; Vasaghi-Gharamaleki, Behnoosh; Zamiri, Mohammad Javad
• Is Part Of: NeuroReport. Volume 27:Issue 16(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-11-09
• Subjects: hindlimb unloading -- hippocampus -- motor cortex -- stereological parameters; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Nervous System Physiological Phenomena -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; 616.805
• DOI: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000000675
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-4965

Abstract

Abstract : Hindlimb unloading (HU) can cause motion and cognition dysfunction, although its cellular and molecular mechanisms are not well understood. The aim of the present study was to determine the stereological parameters of the brain areas involved in motion (motor cortex) and spatial learning – memory (hippocampus) under an HU condition. Sixteen adult male rats, kept under a 12 : 12 h light–dark cycle, were divided into two groups of freely moving ( n =8) and HU ( n =8) rats. The volume of motor cortex and hippocampus, the numerical cell density of neurons in layers I, II–III, V, and VI of the motor cortex, the entire motor cortex as well as the primary motor cortex, and the numerical density of the CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus subregions of the hippocampus were estimated. No significant differences were observed in the evaluated parameters. Our results thus indicated that motor cortical and hippocampal atrophy and cell loss may not necessarily be involved in the motion and spatial learning memory impairment in the rat.