Figure 6. C. elegans and mammals show an age-related increase of nuclear permeability.

(A). Nuclei were isolated from brains of young (3 months) and old (28 months) rats Purified nuclei were incubated with a green 70kDa and a red 500kDa fluorescent dextrans. Nuclear permeability was analyzed by confocal microscopy. Images show each dextran in their original color. The percentage of nuclei that showed influx of the 70kDa dextran was determined using Photoshop CS3 Extended. (B). Nuclei were prepared from C. elegans SS104 worms at different times of adulthood. Nuclear permeability was analyzed and quantified as described in (A) (C) Young and old rat nuclei were incubated with the 70kDa fluorescent dextran, fixed and stained with an antibody against tubulin bIII. (F) Brain nuclei from old rats were fixed and stained with the mAb414 antibody (NPCs) and an anti- tubulin bIII.