title: Aging is associated with divergent effects on Nf-L and GFAP transcription in rat brain.
abstract: We studied the effects of advancing age on the expression of several proteins important in the structure and function of the nervous system. Brains of young (3 month), middle-aged (13 month), and old (29 month) male Fischer 344 rats were examined. Run-on transcription and Northern blot hybridizations were used to determine gene-specific transcription rates and mRNA levels, respectively. With advancing age, there was a decrement in the transcription rate and mRNA levels for neurofilament-light subunit (Nf-L), but an increment in the transcription rate and mRNA levels for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Proteolipid protein (PLP) mRNA levels were attenuated between 3 and 13 months of age, whereas amyloid precursor protein (APP) mRNA levels were attenuated in the middle-aged but not the old animals. Transcription rates for alpha-actin and fos, and mRNA levels for alpha-actin, were unaffected. These observations indicate divergent transcriptional regulation of several genes, notably Nf-L and GFAP, in the aging mammalian forebrain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Krekoski
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Parhad
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D018991:Myelin Proteolipid Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D018991:Myelin Proteolipid Protein; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger