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KMID : 0381919980280030255
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Korean Journal of Microscopy
1998 Volume.28 No. 3 p.255 ~ p.262
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A Study on the Changes of the Synaptic Structures in the Interpolar Part of Spinal Trigeminal Nucleus of Rat during Aging
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Kim Myung-Kook
Kim Cheol-We
Paik Ki-Suk
Lim Bum-Soon
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Abstract
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This study was performed to observe the morphological changes of the synaptic structures in the interpolar part of the spinal trigeminal nucleus of rat during aging. Transmission electron microscopy has been used to determine the r)umber of synapses, length of postsynaptic densities, number and area of axon terminals. Sprague-Dawley rat 3, 12, 24 and 36 months of age were used in this study. 1. The number of synapses was 51.7, 43.1, 28.4 and 16.8 in the 3, 12, 24 and 36 months of age respectively. Therefore, the number of synapses decreased gradually with age, but decreased significantly in the 24 and 36 months. 2. The length of postsynaptic densities was $30.2{\mu}m,\;23.6{\mu}m,\;10.4{\mu}m\;and\;4.9{\mu}m$ in the 3, 12, 24 and 36 months of age respectively. Therefore, the length of postsynaptic densities decreased gradually with age, but decreased significantly in the 24 and 36months. 3. The number of axon terminals was 84.3, 73.7, 51.4 and 26.6 in the 3, 12, 24 and 36 months of age respectively. Therefore, the number of axon terminals decreased gradually with age, but decreased significantly in the 24 and 36months. 4. The area of axon terminals was $76.1{\mu}m^2,\;64.1{\mu}m^2,\;29.9{\mu}m^2\;and\;13.8{\mu}m^2$ in the 3, 12, 24 and 36 months of age respectively. Therefore, the area of axon terminals decreased gradilally with age, but decreased significantly in the 24 and 36 months. The results suggest that there are the changes of the synaptic structures in the interpolar part of spinal trigeminal nucleus of rat during aging. These changes nay be concerned to the decreased function of mediating pain and temperature sensation in the face and oral cavity during aging.
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KEYWORD
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Synapse, Rat, Interpolar part of spinal trigeminal nucleus, Ultrastructure
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