title: Regional brain catechol-O-methyl transferase: age related differences in the mouse.
abstract: Activity levels of COMT were measured in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus and amygdala of two strains of male mice, C57BL/6J and DBA/2J, at various ages between 2 and 30 months. Determinations were made in mice housed under normal conditions and in mice exposed to a form of mild stress, an open-field apparatus, for 5 minutes. There were no major significant differences between the two strains as a function of age. However, after the open-field experience, C57BL/6J mice appeared significantly more responsive to the environment, as interpreted by increases in COMT, than DBA/2J mice. Interpretation is offered that C57BL/6J mice possess a more labile norepinephrine system, in spite of aging, than DBA/2J mice.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000201:enzymology; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase