The Effects of Aging on Sympathetic Innervation of Pancreatic Islets
Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Lizbeth de la Cruz (Mentor), Idaho State University
Additional Funding Sources
IDeA supports this project from the NIGMS-NIH (Grant #P20GM103408).
Abstract
Decreased sympathetic innervation in organs such as the heart and blood vessels has been well-documented in the context of aging. However, the impact of aging on sympathetic innervation within pancreatic islets remains unclear. This research aims to determine whether sympathetic innervation in pancreatic islets is affected by aging. We quantified the sympathetic innervation from islets from young (3-4 months) and old (25-28 months) mice and used tyrosine hydroxylase as a marker. Using FIJI software, we observed a significant increase in the size of sympathetic varicosity in islets from old animals. Varicosity size of old age was 1.4 µm compared to 1.0 µm from young age. Using a particle analysis, we observed a decrease in the number of small varicosities in old animals (0.5-1 µm). Both analyses suggest sympathetic innervation in the pancreatic islets is affected during the aging process. Future analysis will focus on estimating the number and size of sympathetic varicosities in islets in young, middle-aged, and old animals and study how age-related changes in innervation impact the pancreatic islet function, mainly related to the release of hormones like insulin.
The Effects of Aging on Sympathetic Innervation of Pancreatic Islets
Decreased sympathetic innervation in organs such as the heart and blood vessels has been well-documented in the context of aging. However, the impact of aging on sympathetic innervation within pancreatic islets remains unclear. This research aims to determine whether sympathetic innervation in pancreatic islets is affected by aging. We quantified the sympathetic innervation from islets from young (3-4 months) and old (25-28 months) mice and used tyrosine hydroxylase as a marker. Using FIJI software, we observed a significant increase in the size of sympathetic varicosity in islets from old animals. Varicosity size of old age was 1.4 µm compared to 1.0 µm from young age. Using a particle analysis, we observed a decrease in the number of small varicosities in old animals (0.5-1 µm). Both analyses suggest sympathetic innervation in the pancreatic islets is affected during the aging process. Future analysis will focus on estimating the number and size of sympathetic varicosities in islets in young, middle-aged, and old animals and study how age-related changes in innervation impact the pancreatic islet function, mainly related to the release of hormones like insulin.