Histologische Veränderungen in der Großhirnrinde von Ratten mit Verlust des Erinnerungsvermögens im Alter

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Abstract
An investigation was made whether any morphological changes of the brain could be shown in cases of loss of memory in old rats. In 14 rats which had been tested in a maze for their memory capacity, the area praecentralis granularis was histologically investigated at the age of 22 to 32 months. The number of nerve cells and the glia cells per volume unit, the ratio of which is the so-called glia coefficient, and also the cell changes which are always present in the old animals, showed no parallel with the psychological findings. The thickness of the cortex and of the individual laminae showed no marked difference. On the other hand, the gray cell coefficient, i.e., the ratio between the volume of the cortex and the nerve cell mass, in 4 animals with good memory in old age was less than in 6 to 8 animals which showed loss of memory in old age. Two (resp. 4) rats showed overlapping values. It can therefore be concluded only with some probability that the loss of memory is connected with a high gray cell coefficient, that is, with a reduced mass of nerve cell substance.