Decreased mitochondrial bioenergetics and calcium buffering capacity in the basal ganglia correlates with motor deficits in a nonhuman primate model of aging.
Altered mitochondrial function in the basal ganglia has been hypothesized to underlie cellular senescence and promote age-related motor decline. We tested this hypothesis in a nonhuman primate model of human aging. Six young (6-8 years old) and 6 aged (20-25 years old) female Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were behaviorally characterized from standardized video records. Additionally, we measured mitochondrial bioenergetics along with calcium buffering capacity in the substantia nigra and putamen (PUT) from both age groups. Our results demonstrate that the aged animals had significantly reduced locomotor activity and movement speed compared with younger animals. Moreover, aged monkeys had significantly reduced ATP synthesis capacity (in substantia nigra and PUT), reduced pyruvate dehydrogenase activity (in PUT), and reduced calcium buffering capacity (in PUT) compared with younger animals. Furthermore, this age-related decline in mitochondrial function in the basal ganglia correlated with decline in motor function. Overall, our results suggest that drug therapies designed to enhance altered mitochondrial function may help improve motor deficits in the elderly.
Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, The University of Kentucky Chandler College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Kentucky Chandler College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA.
Jignesh D
JD
Pandya
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Kentucky Chandler College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA.
Richard
R
Grondin
Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, The University of Kentucky Chandler College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Kentucky Chandler College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA.
Heather M
HM
Yonutas
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Kentucky Chandler College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA.
Hamed
H
Haghnazar
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Kentucky Chandler College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA.
Don M
DM
Gash
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Kentucky Chandler College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA.
Zhiming
Z
Zhang
Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, The University of Kentucky Chandler College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Kentucky Chandler College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA. Electronic address: patsull@uky.edu.
Patrick G
PG
Sullivan
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D009043:Motor Activity; D000068079:Motor Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009068:Movement; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases; D011768:Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex / Q000378:metabolism
D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D011768:Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate
Aging; Alzheimer's disease; Brain; Calcium buffering; Mitochondria; Mitochondrial permeability transition pore; Parkinson's disease; Parkinsonism; Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex enzyme activity; Respiration; Rhesus monkeys