Chronic D-galactose administration induces natural aging characteristics, in rat’s brain and heart

We aimed to investigate the effect of chronic D-galactose exposure on the mimicking of natural aging processes based upon the hallmarks of aging. Seven-week-old male Wistar rats (n = 12) were randomly assigned to receive either normal saline solution as a vehicle (n = 6) or 150 mg/kg/day of D-galactose subcutaneously for 28 weeks. Seventeen-month-old rats (n = 6) were also included as the chronologically aged controls. At the end of week 28 of the experiment (when the rats reach 35 weeks old and 24 months old), all rats were sacrificed for brain and heart collection. Our results showed that chronic D-galactose exposure mimicked natural aging characteristics of the brain and the heart in terms of deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, altered intercellular communication, and functional impairment. All of which highlight the potential of D-galactose as a substance for inducing brain and cardiac aging in animal experiments.