Stereological investigation of age-related changes of the capillaries in white matter.

We, for the first time, investigated the age-related changes of the capillaries in white matter using immunohistochemistry and stereological techniques. Ten young female (7 months) and 10 aged female (27 months) rats were used. The total length, total volume, and total surface area of the capillaries in white matter of aged rats were all significantly lower than those of young rats. The age-related changes of the capillaries in white matter may have important implications for age-related white matter atrophy and age-related cognitive impairments. Anat Rec, 293:1400–1407, 2010. V C 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.