Abstract
The naturally occurring aging process also causes metabolic and cognitive disorders. Studies report that young plasma factors have a rejuvenating effect on aged tissues and organs. However, there are limited studies investigating the effects of plasma factors on behavior. In this study, the effects of plasma exchange between young and old rats on anxious behavior were evaluated. The male Sprague-Dawley rat was chosen as the model organism. Blood plasma collected from 5-week-old rats was transferred to each of the 24-month-old rats at 0.5 ml per day for 30 days. The blood plasma collected from 24-month old rats was transferred to 5-week old young rats for the same period as 0.25 ml. After the plasma application, the elevated plus maze test, which is used to measure anxious behavior, was applied to the experimental and control groups. Statistical analysis of the obtained data showed that aged plasma factors cause anxious behavior in young rats. These results provide important evidence showing the profound effect of plasma factors, which weaken with aging, on cognitive processes.
Keywords