The number of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone immunoreactive neurons is significantly decreased in the forebrain of old-aged female rats.
To see changes in the number of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons during aging, young (3 months old)- and old (26 months old)-aged female rats, four of each, were used 4 weeks after ovariectomy for immunocytochemistry. The estimated total number (mean +/- SEM) of LHRH immunoreactive (ir) neurons in the forebrain of old-aged rats (353 +/- 34) was significantly smaller than that in young-aged rats (672 +/- 51). In the forebrain, the decrease in the number of LHRH-ir neurons with age in rostral parts was greater than that in caudal parts, suggesting heterogeneous impairment of LHRH neurons in the rat forebrain during aging.
Funabashi
T
T
Department of Physiology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Japan.
Kimura
F
F
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone