Age-dependent Morphometric Changes in the Brains of Albino Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Abstract

The present study had been established to deliver an anatomical atlas for all veterinary anatomists where various structures of the rat brain through all views are shown clearly. On the other hand, the effect of both aging and sex were put into consideration through the current study. Thirty-four apparently healthy rats of both sexes (19 males and 15 females) were used in the study. The animals were classified into four groups according to their age. Cross sections of the brain were performed to document the cerebral dimensions including the cerebral length, width, and height in addition to the transverse diameter of the thalami and the thickness of the corpus callosum. Ageing would result in a negative impact on some brain structures. However, some others had not been affected as much. Furthermore, sex of the animal presented an important role as a variant where male rats of each age group demonstrated different results than their analogous female rats. Findings of this work might be used as a tool for studying the gross morphometric changes that occurred in the rat brains due to normal aging process in either sex.