title: Regional differences in age-related lipofuscin accumulation in the female hamster brainstem.
abstract: Lipofuscin accumulation is a characteristic feature of senescent postmitotic neuronal cells but estrogen may have protecting effects by inhibiting its formation. In the present ultrastructural study, lipofuscin accumulation was studied in 2 estrogen-α-receptive brainstem areas: nucleus pararetroambiguus (NPRA) and the commissural part of the solitary tract nucleus/A2 catecholaminergic group (NTScom/A2) and compared with the estrogen-insensitive medial tegmental field (mtf), in young (23 weeks) and aged (95 weeks) female hamsters. In the aged animals, extensive intracytoplasmic lipofuscin accumulation was observed. A total number of 6450 neurons were classified in 4 categories. Levels were significantly elevated in each of the brain areas studied. Lipofuscin accumulation was strongest in the mtf, less in NPRA, and remarkably less in the area of NTScom/A2. In conclusion, the observed differences in lipofuscin accumulation suggest: (1) considerable regional differences in the degree of neuronal vulnerability; and (2) a possible neuroprotective role for estrogen, because the degree of accumulation is inversely related to the density of the estrogen receptors, varying from nonreceptive (mtf) to NPRA and NTScom/A2 (most receptive).
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Section Anatomy, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. p.o.gerrits@med.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Peter O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Gerrits
authors.forename: Rudie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kortekaas
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Weerd
authors.forename: Jan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Veening
authors.forename: Johannes J L
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van der Want
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology; D006224:Cricetinae; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D008062:Lipofuscin