Table 1.
Data summary for rats of different ages
| Transverse section of optic nerve (ON) | Young rats | Elderly rats | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (months) | 3 | 26 | – |
| Numbers of animals | 15 | 15 | |
| Body weight (g ± SD) | 150 ± 35 | 360 ± 44 | <0.001 |
| Diameter of ON (μm ± SEM) | 221 ± 13 | 268 ± 9 | 0.006 |
| Ratio nerve fibres/meningeal membranes (%) | 74.6/25.4 | 52.2/47.8 | NS |
| Total number of nerve fibres ± SEM | 113,000 ± 894 | 67,300 ± 516 | <0.001 |
| Area of ON (μm2 ± SEM) | 30618.8 ± 12.1 | 28734.1 ± 10.6 | <0.001 |
| MAO activity | 76 ± 1.5 | 208 ± 4.2 | <0.001 |
Mean value ± standard deviation (SD) or standard error of the mean (SEM). Significant differences (P) were calculated comparing the data obtained in elderly and in young rats.
The values of MAOs activity are expressed in International Units (I.U.) ± SEM.