Age related changes in the myelinated fibers of corpus callosum

Efficient and unbiased stereological methods were used to study the age-related changes of corpus callosum and the age-related changes of the myelinated fibers in the corpus callosum. There existed age-related atrophy of rat corpus callosum. The total volume of the myelinated fibers and the total volume of the myelin sheathes in the corpus callosum of aged rat were significantly decreased when compared to young rat. The age-related changes of corpus callosum were primarily due to the loss of the myelinated fibers with small diameters.

► Stereological methods.
► Age-related corpus callosum atrophy.
► Myelinated fibers loss.