Topography of neurochemical alterations in the CNS of aged rats.
We have performed a general survey study on alterations of neurotransmitter-related and glia-related neurochemical markers in various regions of the CNS of aged (30-month-old) as compared to adult (4-month-old) rats. We have found significant decreases in the level of neurochemical parameters related to the cholinergic and GABAergic systems in several regions of the CNS of aged rats. Only few of the alterations present at the age of 30 months, were present in a group of rat of intermediate age (20 months) included in the present study. Less widespread alterations were found concerning the glutamatergic neurotransmission system. Neurochemical markers related to glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) showed a remarkable stability in aged rats as compared to neurotransmitter-related markers. Considering the various CNS areas examined in the present study, the spinal cord of the aged rats was the region showing the most profound alterations of neurochemical parameters, as compared to the various brain areas of the same rats. The present results suggest that moderate and region-specific alterations of neurotransmitter-related parameters occur during normal aging and that glia-related markers are fundamentally stable in the absence of specific pathologies.
Department of Biology, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
M
M
Virgili
B
B
Monti
E
E
Polazzi
G
G
Angiolini
A
A
Contestabile
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D015415:Biomarkers; D004798:Enzymes; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents