Fig. 5

Overexpression of PGLS gene in mice causes aging phenotypes. a Immunostaining of coronal sections of brains from AAV-PGLS and control (Ctrl) mice for GFP (green) and PGLS (red). Scale bars: large = 1 mm, middle = 100 μm, and small = 10 μm. b Fluorescence intensity of PGLS protein detected by anti-PGLS antibody obtained from GFP-positive cells was quantified and averaged (unpaired t test with Welch’s correction: hippocampus p = 0.0002, temporal lobe p = 0.022, parietal lobe p = 0.0259, striatum p = 0.001, occipital p = 0.0366, prefrontal cortex p = 0.0011, and total p < 0.0001). c Representative immunoblots of PGLS in brains from AAV-PGLS and Ctrl mice at 12 months of age. d Protein expression level of PGLS in brains from AAV-PGLS and Ctrl mice (unpaired t test with Welch’s correction, p = 0.0123). e Latencies (second) during training in Morris water maze of PGLS with Ctrl (n = 8 mice, two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test.). f Time (second) spent in goal quadrant during Morris water maze probe trial (n = 8, unpaired t test with Welch’s correction, t = 3.364, p = 0.0078). g Number of platform crossings during Morris water maze probe trial (n = 8, unpaired t test, t = 2.497, p = 0.0256). h Swimming distance (cm) to platform during Morris water maze probe trial (n = 8, unpaired t test, t = 4.244, p = 0.0008). i Examples of results obtained from open field test trace image (left). Total distance traveled (n = 8, unpaired t test, t = 2.296, p = 0.0376) in open field test during a 20-min period (right). j Cumulative food intake over a 24-h period (n = 8, repeated-measure ANOVA, F = 3.169, ***p < 0.0001, ηp² = 0.303). k Total excretions (g) in 24 h (n = 8, unpaired t test, t = 2.747, p = 0.0157)