Gender and age-related variation in adenylyl cyclase activity in the human prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and dorsal raphe nuclei.
The influence of gender and age on adenylyl cyclase activity was investigated, through a Dowex-alumina double step chromatographic procedure, in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and dorsal raphe nuclei obtained from autopsy cadavers. Results showed that forskolin-stimulated enzyme activity in raphe nuclei was greater in men than in women; a region-dependent rank order of basal, forskolin-induced adenylyl cyclase activity and percentage forskolin-stimulation was observed in women only. Lastly, basal values correlated positively with forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in all areas except the prefrontal cortex of the male subjects. Positive significant correlations were also found between both forskolin-stimulated enzyme activity and percentage forskolin stimulation and aging in the prefrontal cortex. Overall, the findings suggest that sex and/or age-related differences in brain adenylyl cyclase vary from one cerebral region to the other.
Palego
L
L
Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, University of Pisa, Italy. liopal@yahoo.com
Giromella
A
A
Mazzoni
M R
MR
Marazziti
D
D
Naccarato
A G
AG
Giannaccini
G
G
Cassano
G B
GB
Lucacchini
A
A
D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000201:enzymology*; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000201:enzymology*; D017678:Sex Distribution
D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases