Astrocytes display increasing activation with age, a
phenomenon that is disruptive to neuronal function
(Rozovsky et al., 2005). In this context, GFAP, an intermediate
filament protein, is known to be overexpressed
by reactive astroglia. Although the variable changes that
we observed in GFAP expression in the dorsal hippocampus
of our aged rats are difficult to interpret, it seems reasonable
to assume that they are likely to contribute to the
overall decline in cognitive function.