Quantitative analysis of dendritic networks of Purkinje neurons during aging.

This study examined quantitative parameters of Golgi-Cox stained Purkinje dendritic networks in Fischer 344 rats of three different ages. Topological patterns of branching, metric parameters of the networks, and spine densities on terminal dendritic branches of the networks were measured and analyzed relative to age of the animals. The data suggested that the networks were topologically stable at all ages, but decreases in spine density on terminal branches, in length per terminal branch, in total length of terminal branches, and in total length of the entire network were shown. Decreases in spine density were found in cells of both older groups of rats; however, decreases in length parameters were significant only in the cells of rats in the intermediate age group.