The activity of synaptosomal calcium channels is inversely correlated with working memory performance in memory impaired, aged rats.
Aged, memory-impaired rats do not learn an 8-arm radial maze task but differ in their performance along testing. The aim of this study was to determine whether any of the systems that govern calcium homeostasis in synaptosomes may be related to that difference in performance. A negative correlation between initial (5 s) K(+)-stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake and the behavioral scores from the last testing sessions was obtained K(+)-stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake showed also a negative correlation with an improvement score that evaluates the progress made by the rat along testing. The results support the notion that calcium inflow through synaptosomal voltage gated calcium channels in old rats is inversely correlated with their behavior. This may explain the beneficial effects of organic calcium channel blockers on behavioral performance in aged animals.
Department of Molecular Biology, Center of Molecular Biology, Severo Ochoa CSIC, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain.
P
P
Blanco
A
A
Huidobro
M
M
Villalba
P
P
Gómez-Puertas
E
E
Bogónez
R
R
Pereira
A
A
Martínez-Serrano
J J
JJ
Aparicio
J
J
Satrústegui
D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D002132:Calcium Radioisotopes; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D015220:Calcium Channels; D002132:Calcium Radioisotopes; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium