title: Age-related differential expression of neuropeptide mRNAs in Aplysia.
abstract: The basis of aging in the Aplysia nervous system is unknown. We now report age-related changes in mRNA expression of phe-met-arg-phe-NH2 (FMRFamide) and egg-laying hormone (ELH) in the abdominal ganglion, a part of the CNS, in young, mature and old Aplysia. Northern blot analysis revealed two mRNA species of 1.4 and 3.2 kb for RMRFamide and a single mRNA species of 0.8 kb for ELH. FMRFamide mRNA level increased 1.5-fold from young to mature and then decreased 3-fold in old animals. ELH mRNA gradually increased between young and mature animals and then escalated 25-fold in old animals. Age differentially affected the mRNA of these two peptides, which may contribute to behavioral changes previously reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington 40536.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kindy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Srivatsan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peretz
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia / Q000254:growth & development*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D019835:FMRFamide; D005724:Ganglia / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones / Q000235:genetics*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D007447:Invertebrate Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C026880:egg-laying hormone, Mollusca; D019835:FMRFamide