Age-Related Cognitive and Volumetric Changes in the Brain of African Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus (Temminck, 1827))
The African grasscutter (AGC) (Thryonomys swinderianus) is the second largest rodent in sub-Saharan Africa. It is bred for its organoleptic and culinary properties but also serves as a research model. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between age-related changes in brain weig...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Veterinary Medicine International |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/vmi/3349981 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850121896694120448 |
|---|---|
| author | Hounakey M. Afanvi Maman You Esperance Broalet Ouattara Niemtiah Yaovi James Brahima Doukoure Neme Antoine Tako Kossi Metowogo Kwashi Eklu-Gadegbeku Kodjo Aklikokou |
| author_facet | Hounakey M. Afanvi Maman You Esperance Broalet Ouattara Niemtiah Yaovi James Brahima Doukoure Neme Antoine Tako Kossi Metowogo Kwashi Eklu-Gadegbeku Kodjo Aklikokou |
| author_sort | Hounakey M. Afanvi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The African grasscutter (AGC) (Thryonomys swinderianus) is the second largest rodent in sub-Saharan Africa. It is bred for its organoleptic and culinary properties but also serves as a research model. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between age-related changes in brain weight, brain volume, and spatial and nonspatial memory performance in the AGC. A total of forty-two (42) captive-derived AGCs were divided into seven age groups: 6 neonates (6 days), 6 juveniles (1 month), 6 pubertals (3 months), 6 subadults (8 months), 6 young adults (2 years), 6 middle adults (4 years), and 6 old adults (5 years). The subjects were given a series of tests to assess their spatial memory (location test) and their nonspatial memory (object recognition test). Brain samples were then collected using basic neuroanatomical techniques. The weight and volume of the brain samples were determined and their encephalization quotient (EQ) was also calculated. The results showed that spatial and nonspatial memory in AGC develops into adulthood and then declines with age. Mean brain weight increased from neonates to mid-adulthood (5.20 ± 0.31 g–11.76 ± 0.23 g) and decreased in older AGC (11.75 ± 0.22 g). In contrast, the mean weight of the olfactory bulb (OB) increased from neonates to young adults (0.28 ± 0.02 g–0.80 ± 0.03 g) and the cerebellum increased from neonates to older (0.59 ± 0 0.01 g–1.86 ± 0.06 g). Finally, the EQ decreased with age (0.73 ± 0.05–0.29 ± 0.01). Mean brain volume increased with age from neonates to young adult (5 mL–11.25 mL). Conversely, the mean volume of the OB and cerebellum increases from neonates to older age (0.33 ± 0.03 mL–0.95 ± 0.04 mL). This study shows that spatial and nonspatial memory declines during the aging process in AGC. Neonates and juveniles have higher cognitive abilities than adults and older AGC. The weight of the brain, OB, and cerebellum increases from neonates to adult and decreases slightly from middle to old adults. However, the volume of the OB and cerebellum increases with age. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6ac2fa02e3ee45f08e095adcfc2734e6 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2042-0048 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Medicine International |
| spelling | doaj-art-6ac2fa02e3ee45f08e095adcfc2734e62025-08-20T02:34:57ZengWileyVeterinary Medicine International2042-00482024-01-01202410.1155/vmi/3349981Age-Related Cognitive and Volumetric Changes in the Brain of African Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus (Temminck, 1827))Hounakey M. Afanvi0Maman You Esperance Broalet1Ouattara Niemtiah2Yaovi James3Brahima Doukoure4Neme Antoine Tako5Kossi Metowogo6Kwashi Eklu-Gadegbeku7Kodjo Aklikokou8Laboratory of Biology and Health, Neuroscience UnitAnatomy Laboratory, Medical Science Training and Research UnitLaboratory of Biology and Health, Neuroscience UnitAnatomy Laboratory, Faculty of Health SciencesPathological Anatomy and Cytology Laboratory, Training and Research Unit-Medical SciencesLaboratory of Biology and Health, Neuroscience UnitPhysiology-Pharmacology Laboratory, Physiopathology Bioactive Substances and Safety Research UnitPhysiology-Pharmacology Laboratory, Physiopathology Bioactive Substances and Safety Research UnitPhysiology-Pharmacology Laboratory, Physiopathology Bioactive Substances and Safety Research UnitThe African grasscutter (AGC) (Thryonomys swinderianus) is the second largest rodent in sub-Saharan Africa. It is bred for its organoleptic and culinary properties but also serves as a research model. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between age-related changes in brain weight, brain volume, and spatial and nonspatial memory performance in the AGC. A total of forty-two (42) captive-derived AGCs were divided into seven age groups: 6 neonates (6 days), 6 juveniles (1 month), 6 pubertals (3 months), 6 subadults (8 months), 6 young adults (2 years), 6 middle adults (4 years), and 6 old adults (5 years). The subjects were given a series of tests to assess their spatial memory (location test) and their nonspatial memory (object recognition test). Brain samples were then collected using basic neuroanatomical techniques. The weight and volume of the brain samples were determined and their encephalization quotient (EQ) was also calculated. The results showed that spatial and nonspatial memory in AGC develops into adulthood and then declines with age. Mean brain weight increased from neonates to mid-adulthood (5.20 ± 0.31 g–11.76 ± 0.23 g) and decreased in older AGC (11.75 ± 0.22 g). In contrast, the mean weight of the olfactory bulb (OB) increased from neonates to young adults (0.28 ± 0.02 g–0.80 ± 0.03 g) and the cerebellum increased from neonates to older (0.59 ± 0 0.01 g–1.86 ± 0.06 g). Finally, the EQ decreased with age (0.73 ± 0.05–0.29 ± 0.01). Mean brain volume increased with age from neonates to young adult (5 mL–11.25 mL). Conversely, the mean volume of the OB and cerebellum increases from neonates to older age (0.33 ± 0.03 mL–0.95 ± 0.04 mL). This study shows that spatial and nonspatial memory declines during the aging process in AGC. Neonates and juveniles have higher cognitive abilities than adults and older AGC. The weight of the brain, OB, and cerebellum increases from neonates to adult and decreases slightly from middle to old adults. However, the volume of the OB and cerebellum increases with age.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/vmi/3349981 |
| spellingShingle | Hounakey M. Afanvi Maman You Esperance Broalet Ouattara Niemtiah Yaovi James Brahima Doukoure Neme Antoine Tako Kossi Metowogo Kwashi Eklu-Gadegbeku Kodjo Aklikokou Age-Related Cognitive and Volumetric Changes in the Brain of African Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus (Temminck, 1827)) Veterinary Medicine International |
| title | Age-Related Cognitive and Volumetric Changes in the Brain of African Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus (Temminck, 1827)) |
| title_full | Age-Related Cognitive and Volumetric Changes in the Brain of African Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus (Temminck, 1827)) |
| title_fullStr | Age-Related Cognitive and Volumetric Changes in the Brain of African Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus (Temminck, 1827)) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Age-Related Cognitive and Volumetric Changes in the Brain of African Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus (Temminck, 1827)) |
| title_short | Age-Related Cognitive and Volumetric Changes in the Brain of African Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus (Temminck, 1827)) |
| title_sort | age related cognitive and volumetric changes in the brain of african grasscutter thryonomys swinderianus temminck 1827 |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/vmi/3349981 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hounakeymafanvi agerelatedcognitiveandvolumetricchangesinthebrainofafricangrasscutterthryonomysswinderianustemminck1827 AT mamanyouesperancebroalet agerelatedcognitiveandvolumetricchangesinthebrainofafricangrasscutterthryonomysswinderianustemminck1827 AT ouattaraniemtiah agerelatedcognitiveandvolumetricchangesinthebrainofafricangrasscutterthryonomysswinderianustemminck1827 AT yaovijames agerelatedcognitiveandvolumetricchangesinthebrainofafricangrasscutterthryonomysswinderianustemminck1827 AT brahimadoukoure agerelatedcognitiveandvolumetricchangesinthebrainofafricangrasscutterthryonomysswinderianustemminck1827 AT nemeantoinetako agerelatedcognitiveandvolumetricchangesinthebrainofafricangrasscutterthryonomysswinderianustemminck1827 AT kossimetowogo agerelatedcognitiveandvolumetricchangesinthebrainofafricangrasscutterthryonomysswinderianustemminck1827 AT kwashieklugadegbeku agerelatedcognitiveandvolumetricchangesinthebrainofafricangrasscutterthryonomysswinderianustemminck1827 AT kodjoaklikokou agerelatedcognitiveandvolumetricchangesinthebrainofafricangrasscutterthryonomysswinderianustemminck1827 |