[AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN THE MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS OF THE NEURONS IN HUMAN HIPPOCAMPUS].

Abstract

Age-related changes in the hippocampus (HC) result in the disturbances of all types of memory and the shifts of emotional reactions. The aim of the present study was to examine the morphometric parameters of neurons of human HC during the aging process. The material was obtained at autopsy of the bodies of 43 individuals of both sexes aged 21–92 years that were divided into 4 age groups. The sections were stained with Nissl’s cresyl violet for identification of neurons. The neurons were counted within the standard area and their profile field area was measured in HC proper, in the area of fields CA1 and CA3, and in dentate gyrus in the hippocampal pes. It was found that with aging human HC underwent a heterochronic loss of nerve cells, the intensity of which differed at the level of the middle part and the hippocampal pes. The degree of age-related loss of nerve cells in human HC increased in the direction: dentate gyrus → CA3 → CA1. In most compartments of HC, a compensatory increase of the neuron profile field area was observed in the period from 36 to 74 years, giving place to its reduction in individuals older than 75 years.