title: Age-related changes in the dynamics of potassium-evoked L-glutamate release in the striatum of Fischer 344 rats.
abstract: In the present studies we used a multisite ceramic-based microelectrode for rapid (800 ms) and low level measures of L-glutamate in vivo. We measured the amplitude and clearance rate of phasic changes in L-glutamate release produced by local application of potassium by a micropipette placed adjacent to the recording sites in the striatum of young (6 month), late middle aged (18 month) and aged (24 month) Fischer 344 rats. Our results showed that the amplitudes and clearance rates of potassium-evoked release of L-glutamate in the striatum were significantly decreased in aged rats as compared to the other age groups. In addition, the sensitivity of glutamate fibers to depolarization with potassium was significantly decreased in the aged rats as compared to young animals. Taken together, these data are consistent with age-related alterations in glutamate release dynamics, which may involve a compensatory mechanism for maintaining static glutamate concentrations within the striatum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Center for Sensor Technology and the Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center of Excellence, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY 40536-0098, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nickell
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pomerleau
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Gerhardt
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
chemical_list: D018698:Glutamic Acid; D011188:Potassium