Age-related changes of NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons in the rat inferior colliculus and auditory cortex.
Nitric oxide (NO) has been implied in age-related changes of the central nervous system (CNS) and the central auditory pathway. The present study was conducted to investigate whether the number of NO-producing cells and their morphometric characteristics in the inferior colliculus (IC) and the auditory cortex (AC) are changed with the increasing age of the subjects. IC and AC sections of adult and senile Wistar rats were studied using the histochemical detection of NADPH-diaphorase activity (NADPH-d), a marker for neurons containing nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Our results showed a decreased area of the somas of NADPH-d-positive neurons in the dorsal cortex (DC) of the IC and a diffuse loss of NADPH-d-positive neurons in the senile IC and primary cortical auditory area (Te1). However, an increased number of NO-producing cells have been shown by other authors in different parts of the ageing auditory pathway and CNS. It seems that age-related changes in NADPH-d-positive cells may follow a region-specific route. These changes may be related to hearing impairments with increasing age.
Sánchez-Zuriaga
Daniel
D
Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of València, València 46010, Spain.
Martí-Gutiérrez
Nuria
N
De La Cruz
Maria Angeles Pérez
MA
Peris-Sanchis
Maria Rosa
MR
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001303:Auditory Cortex; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase