Author/Editor		Pakkenberg, Henning; Burns, Richard S; Pakkenberg, Bente
Title		Age changes in number of pigmented neurons in the monkey locus coeruleus
Type		članek
Source		Acta Stereol
Vol. and No.		Letnik 18, št. 2
Publication year		1999
Volume		str. 123-30
Language		eng
Abstract		Using stereological counting methods, the total number of pigmented and nonpigmented nerve cells was estimated in locus coeruleus of 19 rhesus monkevs: 13 old animals (10 females, three males), and six young females. Statistically, the total cell number was not different in young and old animals: 47,700 (coefficient of variation (CV=SD/mean)=0.30) in young and 53,200 (CV=0.64) in old monkeys; thus, no loss of neurons was found as a function of age. Young monkeys had an average of 1,600 (CV=1.49)pigmented neurons, while the old animals had 10,600 (CV=1.16) pigmented neurons in locus coeruleus, so increased pigmentation is a function of age. The number of nonpigmented cells was almost the same in the two groups (young animals 46,100 (CV=0.39) and old animals 42.,600 (CV=0.81)). Locus coeruleus volume was the same in young and old animals, and there were no statistically significant systematic right-left differences in the number of pigmented and nonpigmented neurons. Relatively few age-related changes have previously been confirmed in primates.
Descriptors		LOCUS COERULEUS NEURONS PIGMENTATION CELL COUNT AGE FACTORS MACACA MULATTA BIOMETRY