Quantifying calretinin-labeled afferent terminals in vestibular sensory epithelia of young and older gerbils

Key Points

• A significant decrease in calretinin-labeled afferent terminals occurs with aging, affecting the vestibular system.
• In young gerbils, afferent terminals show a higher count compared to older counterparts, underscoring neuroplasticity changes.
• Quantification methods measure density of calretinin-labeled terminals in sensory epithelia of vestibular organs across age groups.
• Understanding this decline may highlight synaptic plasticity aspects related to vestibular function in aging.