Age-dependent increase in the expression of antioxidant-like protein-1 in the gerbil hippocampus

Antioxidant-like protein-1 (AOP-1) reduces the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species. In the present study, the age‑related change in AOP‑1 expression in the hippocampus among young, adult and aged gerbils was compared using western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrated that the protein expression of AOP‑1 was gradually and significantly increased in the hippocampus during the normal aging process. In addition, the age‑dependent increase in AOP‑1 immunoreactivity was also observed in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus proper; however, in the dentate gyrus, AOP‑1 immunoreactivity was not altered during the normal aging process. These results indicated that the expression of AOP‑1 is significantly increased in the hippocampus proper, but not in the dentate gyrus, during the normal aging process.