title: Colocalization of muscarinic and nicotinic receptors in cholinoceptive neurons of the suprachiasmatic region in young and aged rats.
abstract: In the present study muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic receptors in the SCN region were demonstrated and analyzed, employing monoclonal antibodies to purified muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic receptor proteins. A near-total colocalization of the two acetylcholine receptor subclasses in cholinoceptive neurons of the SCN area was found. The antibodies applied to aging rat brain (at 30-34 months) revealed a clear decrease in immunoreactivity in senescence albeit with a high level of individual variability. Furthermore, in 8 out of 10 aged animals examined a considerable increase of astrocytes possessing muscarinic cholinergic receptors was observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology, University of Groningen, Haren, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: van der Zee
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Streefland
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Strosberg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Luiten
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic