Cloning and molecular characterization of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomere length analysis of Peromyscus leucopus

Hematopoietic Aging Biomarkers in Peromyscus leucopus Mice

We analyzed hematopoietic phenotypes in Peromyscus leucopus (PL) mice at young (2–9 months), middle (22–23 months) and old (33–46 months) ages aimed at characterizing age-associated changes in this unique rodent species. We found a significantly higher number of monocytes in old PL mice in peripheral blood, and higher proportions of CD44⁺ cells in blood, spleen and bone marrow in old PL mice than in middle and young counterparts. We conclude that elevated blood monocyte counts and up-regulated hematopoietic cell CD44 expression are two useful aging biomarkers for PL mice.