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Striatal trophic activity is reduced in the aged rat brain
Z D Ling1, T J Collier, C E Sortwell
1Department of Pharmacology, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Tech 2000, Suite 260, 2242 West Harrison Street, Chicago IL, USA.
Brain Research
|March 10, 2000
Summary
Aging reduces dopamine and trophic activity in the aged striatum, impairing its ability to support neural grafts. This age-related decline impacts graft survival and function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Aging Research
- Neurobiology
Background:
- Previous studies indicated reduced mesencephalic graft survival in aged animals.
- This suggested an age-related decline in target-derived neurotrophic activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis of age-related decline in neurotrophic activity.
- To examine dopamine and trophic activities in the striatum of rats of increasing age.
Main Methods:
- Fisher 344 rats (4, 12, 18, 23 months old) were used.
- Animals underwent unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions or remained intact.
- Striatal tissue was analyzed for dopamine (DA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and trophic activity using HPLC and cell cultures.
Main Results:
- In intact rats, striatal DA decreased and DA activity increased with age (18, 23 m.o. vs. 4, 12 m.o.).
- Striatal trophic activity showed an inverse relationship with age.
- In lesioned rats, the ability to compensate for DA reduction diminished with age, with trophic support differences between lesioned and contralateral sides disappearing in older groups.
Conclusions:
- Advancing age is associated with reduced striatal dopamine and trophic activity.
- The aged striatum exhibits diminished capacity for biochemical and trophic compensation.
- The aged striatum presents a challenging environment for fetal graft survival, growth, and function.