Age-related effects of bromocriptine on sensory gating in rhesus monkeys.
Declines in dopamine neurotransmission are a robust characteristic of the process of normal aging. Using neuroimaging, biochemical and cognitive methods, age-related reduction of D2 receptor has been noted in a wide range of species. On the other hand, it is well known that dopamine plays a crucial role in the modulation of sensory gating. Here, we examined age-related alterations of D2 receptor in rhesus monkeys, using a sensory gating paradigm. The direct D2 receptor agonist, bromocriptine, was characterized in young adult and aged monkeys. We found bromocriptine disrupted sensory gating in young adult monkeys but not in aged ones. Our results provided new evidence that there is a functional decline of D2 receptor in aged monkeys.
Liu
Ning
N
Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, PR China.
Yu
Shan
S
Zhou
Yifeng
Y
Cai
Jingxia
J
Ma
Yuanye
Y
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008032:Limbic System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D001971:Bromocriptine