title: In situ hybridization analysis of preprotachykinin-A mRNA levels in young and old rats.
abstract: The present study examined the effects of ageing on preprotachykinin-A (PPT-A) mRNA levels in discrete regions of the rat brain. Semiquantitative analysis of silver grains revealed a 16% statistically significant decrease in PPT-A mRNA in the shell of the nucleus accumbens (AcbSh), a 27.6% statistically significant lower level of PPT-A mRNA in the olfactory tubercle (Tu), a 19.2% and 31. 5% statistically significant decrease in PPT-A mRNA in the dorsal and ventral caudate-putamen (d-CPu) (v-CPu), respectively, a 30% statistically significant lower expression of PPT-A mRNA in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a 33.7% statistically significant decrease in PPT-A mRNA in the habenula (Hb) and a 30% statistically significant decrease of PPT-A mRNA levels in the postero-dorsal part of the medial amygdala (MePD). No changes in PPT-A mRNA levels were found in the nucleus accumbens, core (AcbC), in the islands of Calleja (Icj), and in the medial preoptic area (mPOA). These results show that ageing of the central nervous system (CNS) is associated with widespread changes in tachykinin gene expression, suggesting that alteration in the tachykinergic system may have implications in the physio-pathology of the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Experimental Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Scalzino 3, 62032 Camerino (MC), Italy. pompei@cambio.unicam.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pompei
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Severini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fattoretti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertoni-Freddari
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D019262:Habenula / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015320:Tachykinins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015320:Tachykinins; C044206:preprotachykinin