title: Circadian variations of neurotransmitter binding in three age groups of rats.
abstract: Binding in 14 ligand membrane receptor pairs and choline acetyltransferase activity were studied at 4-hour intervals during a 24-hour cycle (12:12 light:dark). Cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, striatum and brainstem were prepared from 3-, 12- and 24-month-old male rats. Cholinergic, alpha- and beta-adrenergic, dopaminergic, serotonergic, gabaergic and opiate binding were determined. In the aged animals, the times of the binding maxima are no longer locked to the same time of the light:dark cycle, and the cycle phases themselves are shifted in comparison to those of the young and adult group. Cycle amplitudes were smallest in the 12-month-old rats, increasing significantly in the 24-month group. The age changes in the overall (24-hour) means fall into 4 different patterns, none of which shows a linear age-related decrease. This points out the great importance of including an adult group (12 months) in all ageing studies on small mammals.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jenni-Eiermann
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: von Hahn
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Honegger
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase