title: Analysis of Na+/Ca2+ exchange activity in human brain: the effect of normal aging.
abstract: Na+/Ca2+ exchange activity and passive permeability to Ca2+ were analyzed in plasma membrane vesicles (PMV) purified from whole rat brain and three regions of human brain: frontal cortex, temporal cortex, and cerebellum. Accumulation of Ca2+ due to Na+/Ca2+ exchange activity showed a characteristic pattern of an initial rapid rise in Ca2+ content followed by a stable plateau in both rat and human brain. Total Ca2+ accumulation in rat brain PMV was on average three-fold higher than in human brain. Passive permeability to Ca2+ was measured as the rate of Ca2+ release from PMV first loaded with 45Ca by Na+/Ca2+ exchange and then exposed to 1 mM EGTA. The Ca2+ permeabilities of human and rat brain PMV were similar. Ca2+ release from rat brain PMV was faster overall and was resolved into fast and slow components while in human brain a single slow component was found. Post mortem delay up to 4 h had no effect on Na+/Ca2+ exchange Km for Ca2+, Vmax, and peak uptake and Ca2+ release rate in rat brain PMV. Human frontal cortex was shown to have a greater Na+/Ca2+ exchange activity than that found in the cerebellum. The frontal cortex, temporal cortex and cerebellum had similar Ca2+ permeabilities. Age-related effects on Na+/Ca2+ exchange activity and Ca2+ permeability were determined in 15 tissues from human frontal cortex (age at death 21 to 93 years). No significant age related effects were seen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens 45701.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Colvin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007474:Ion Exchange; D007700:Kinetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D051381:Rats; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium