Regulation of calcium levels in brain tissue from adult and aged rats

The possibility that regulation of Ca2+ levels in brain nerve terminals is altered as the brain ages was examined in synaptosomes from adult and aged Fischer 344 rats. Free intrasynaptosomal [Ca2+]i was monitored with fura-2 as synaptosomes were depolarized with KCl, veratridine and ibotenic acid. With all three depolarizing agents, synaptosomes from aged animals reached higher free Ca2+ levels, and the maximal Ca2+ increases (delta Ca2+) estimated from computer assisted-fitting of the curves, ranged from 35% to 80% greater in synaptosomes from aged animals. The total Ca2+ content of the brain and of synaptosomes was also found to be considerably higher in aged than in adult animals. These results suggest that the aging process in brain is accompanied by alterations in both dynamic aspects of Ca2+ handling in nerve endings and the overall content of Ca2+ in the brain and synaptic terminals.