Age-associated reduction in pineal beta-adrenergic receptor density is prevented by life-long food restriction in rats.
At 28 months of age (old rats), male Fisher 344 rats which had been fed 40% of the ad libitum food intake since they were 6 months old, had a similar beta-adrenergic receptor density (Bmax) in their pineal gland as young, 3-month-old rats. In contrast, old rats which had been fed ad libitum for the same period had approximately 50% of the Bmax value compared to that of young rats. The beta-receptor density of cerebral cortical tissue and the beta-receptor affinity (Kd) of both the cortex and the pineal gland did not decline with age and was not affected by food restriction. The reduction in pineal beta-receptor density with age may be casually related to the concurrent age-associated decline in pineal production of melatonin.
Henden
T
T
Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7762.
Stokkan
K A
KA
Reiter
R J
RJ
Nonaka
K O
KO
Lerchl
A
A
Jones
D J
DJ
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D005508:Food Deprivation; D008297:Male; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism*
D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta