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Neuropharmacology Poster Session






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Aging-induced Changes in Monoamine Neurotransmitters of Different Brain Regions of the Rat

Miguez, JM. (Dept. of Functional Biology and Health Sciences, Animal Physiol. Lab, Univ. Vigo., Spain)
Recio, J. (Dept. Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Univ. Cantabria, Spain)
Paz-Valinas, L. (Dept. Animal Physiol, School of Biol., Univ. Santiago de Compostela, Spain)
Aldegunde, M. (Dept. Animal Physiol, School of Biol., Univ. Santiago de Compostela, Spain)
Sanchez-Barcelo, EJ (Dept. Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Univ. Cantabria, Spain)

Contact Person: Emilio J. Sanchez-Barcelo (barcelo@medi.unican.es)


Abstract

This study examines the age-associated changes in noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-acetic acid (DOPAC), serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in different brain areas of rats. DA and DOPAC concentrations in striatum increased at third month of age, remaining without significant variations until 12th month of age, and decreasing in 24-month-old rats. DA concentration dropped in hippocampus, amygdala and brainstem of 24-month-old-rats, whereas DOPAC levels decreased only in hippocampus. These changes suggest an age-dependent deficit of dopaminergic system, presumably related with a reduced number/activity of DA nigrostriatal and mesolimbic neurons. An age-induced decline in NA content was found in the pons-medulla, the area containing NA neuronal bodies. Concentrations of 5-HT were reduced with aging in frontal cortex, showing a tendency to decrease in all brain areas examined. The increased 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio found in frontal cortex, amygdala and striatum suggests an age-related decreased synthesis and an accelerated 5-HT metabolism. The 5-HIAA content decreased in brainstem of the oldest rats. These findings point to a selective impairment of nigrostriatal and mesolimbic DA in aging rats, whereas reductions in NA were restricted to cell bodies region and 5-HT showed changes of different extent in areas of terminals and neuronal cell bodies.

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Poster Number PAmiguez0364
Keywords: Aging, Serotonin, Dopamine, Noradrenaline, DOPAC


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Miguez, JM.; Recio, J.; Paz-Valinas, L.; Aldegunde, M.; Sanchez-Barcelo, EJ; (1998). Aging-induced Changes in Monoamine Neurotransmitters of Different Brain Regions of the Rat. Presented at INABIS '98 - 5th Internet World Congress on Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University, Canada, Dec 7-16th. Available at URL http://www.mcmaster.ca/inabis98/neuropharm/miguez0364/index.html
© 1998 Author(s) Hold Copyright