Testosterone (T)-induced changes in arcuate nucleus cocaine-amphetamine-regulated transcript and NPY mRNA are attenuated in old compared to young male brown Norway rats: contribution of T to age-related changes in cocaine-amphetamine-regulated transcript and NPY gene expression.
The age-related decrease in serum T levels is associated with impairments in food intake and weight regulation and alterations in brain peptides that regulate energy balance. To test the hypothesis that reduced T levels contribute to altered hypothalamic cocaine-amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and NPY gene expression, the mRNA content of these neuropeptides was measured by in situ hybridization in sham-operated (intact), castrated, and T-replaced castrated young and old male Brown Norway rats. T levels in T-replaced young and old rats were similar to those in intact young animals. Compared with castrated rats, arcuate nucleus CART mRNA was lower and NPY mRNA was higher in both young and old T-replaced castrated animals, suggesting reciprocal regulation of these peptides by T; these T-induced changes were localized primarily in the rostral arcuate and were markedly attenuated in old animals. Compared with intact animals, paraventricular nucleus CART mRNA was lower in castrated animals and similar in T-replaced young and old rats. We conclude that hypothalamic CART and NPY neurons remain responsive to T regulation in old rats, albeit less so than in young animals, suggesting that the age-related reduction of T contributes in part to altered brain neuropeptide gene expression favoring anorexia and wasting with aging.
Sohn
Elliott H
EH
Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington 98108-1597, USA.
Wolden-Hanson
Tami
T
Matsumoto
Alvin M
AM
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009919:Orchiectomy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein; D013739:Testosterone; D000661:Amphetamine; D003042:Cocaine