Restauration of age related motor impairment: role of IGF-1 based gene therapy and microglial activation?

FALOMIR LOCKHART E; MILLÁN J; ANESETTI-NELLI S; HEREÑÚ C.; BELLINI M,

La Plata

Congreso; II Congreso Internacional de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; 2015 Nov 12-14; La Plata, BA, Argentina; 2015

Universidad Nacional de La Plata

INTRODUCTION Microglial cells play an important role in healthy and diseased brain removing apoptotic neurons, establishing transient connections with neuronal synapses and producing neurotrophic factors that modulate neurogenesis during embryogenesis and adulthood. These cells are essential for ensuring neuroprotection in the normal and pathological condition of central nervous system as they are an important sources of neurotrophic factors. It has been described that aging reduces the ability of microglia to provide neuroprotection.It is well known that IGF-1 plays a physiological role in neuroprotection. In situations involving cytotoxic damage, the microglia increases the production of IGF-1. Previous studies of our group described that intracerebroventricular (ICV) IGF-1 gene therapy induced a significant improvement in motor performance in aged rats.HYPOTHESISWE PROPOSE THAT RESTORATIVE EFFECTS OF IGF-1 ON MOTOR SKILLS COULD BE MEDIATED BY GLIAL CELLS.CONCLUSIONOur results suggest that microglia could be involved in the maintenance of motor skills and offer a novel approach for reversing age-associated motor and exploratory performance in rats.