title: Age-associated changes in mRNA levels of Phox2, norepinephrine transporter and dopamine beta-hydroxylase in the locus coeruleus and adrenal glands of rats.
abstract: Age-related changes in the gene expression of the transcription factors, Phox2a and 2b, and two marker proteins, norepinephrine transporter (NET) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), of noradrenergic neurons were characterized in the locus coeruleus (LC) and adrenal glands using in situ hybridization. Analysis of changes was performed in rats that were 1-23 months of age. Compared to 1-month-old rats, there was a 62% increase of Phox2a messenger RNA (mRNA) in the LC of 3-month-old rats, and a decline of 37% in 23-month-old rats. In contrast, levels of Phox2b mRNA in the LC remained unchanged in 3-month-old rats, but declined to a 30% reduction in 23-month-old rats. Interestingly, mRNA levels of NET in the LC decreased with increasing age to a reduction of 29%, 30% and 43% in 3-, 8- and 23-month-old rats, respectively. Similarly, DBH mRNA in the LC declined with increasing age to a 56% reduction in 23-month-old rats. mRNA levels of Phox2a, Phox2b, NET and DBH in the adrenal medulla of 23-month-old rats were significantly lower than those of 1-month-old rats. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription assays of the same genes yielded data similar to in situ hybridization experiments, with beta-actin mRNA levels being unchanged across the ages. Taken together, these data reveal that reduced Phox2 mRNAs in the LC and adrenal medulla of aging rats are accompanied by a coincidental decline in mRNA levels of NET and DBH and suggest a possible relationship between Phox2 genes and the marker genes in noradrenergic neurons after birth.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216, USA. mzhu@psychiatry.umsmed.ed
authors: Meng-Yang
authors: MY
authors: Zhu
authors: Wei-Ping
authors: WP
authors: Wang
authors: Abiye H
authors: AH
authors: Iyo
authors: Gregory A
authors: GA
authors: Ordway
authors: Kwang-Soo
authors: KS
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern / Q000379:methods; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050484:Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D027981:Symporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D050484:Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C100935:Phox2a protein, rat; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C493226:Slc6a2 protein, rat; D027981:Symporters; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase