title: Characterization of monoaminergic systems in brain regions of prematurely ageing mice.
abstract: We have previously shown that differences in life span among members of Swiss mouse populations appear to be related to their exploration of a T-maze, with a slow exploration ("slow mice") being linked to increased levels of emotionality/anxiety, an impaired immune function and a shorter life span. Thus, we proposed the slow mice as prematurely ageing mice (PAM). We have now compared the monoaminergic systems of the PAM and of the non-prematurely ageing mice (NPAM), in discrete brain regions. PAM had decreased noradrenaline (NA) levels in all the brain regions analysed, whereas the 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol (MHPG)/NA ratios were not significantly modified. PAM also showed decreased serotonine (5-HT) levels in hypothalamus, striatum and midbrain, as well as increased 5-hydroxyindol-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA)/5-HT ratios in hypothalamus and hippocampus. The dopamine (DA) content was lower in PAM in most regions, whereas the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC)/DA and homovanillic acid (HVA)/DA ratios were either increased or unchanged depending on the region analysed. In most cases, the differences between PAM and NPAM involved both sexes. One exception was the hypothalamus where the differences only affected the male mice. The neurochemical alterations found in PAM resemble some changes reported for aged animals and are related with their behavioural features.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040, Madrid, Spain. mondelaf@bio.ucm.es
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De la Fuente
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernanz
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Noelia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guayerbas
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Maria Paz
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Viveros
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D019588:Aging, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid