Age-related changes in uptake and release on L-[3H]noradrenaline in brain slices of senescence accelerated mouse

High K+ and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) evoked L-[3H]noradrenaline (NA) release to a similar degree in the brain slices of 1-month-old senescence-accelerated resistant mice (SAM-R/1) and senescence-accelerated prone mice (SAM-P/8). However, 30 mM KCl-induced L-[3H]NA release significantly diminished in SAM-P/8 from 3 to 12 months without changing in SAM-R/1. In addition, NMDA-induced L-[3H]NA release was also reduced at 3 months and lowered to a level of spontaneous release at 12 months in SAM-P/8, but no age-related changes in SAM-R/1 were observed. It is suggested that NA release from NA nerve terminals responsive to depolarization is reduced in SAM-P/8 at an earlier stage than in SAM-R/1. Furthermore, NMDA receptors which could be localized in the soma and/or nerve terminals, seem to be involved in NA release and to be decreased with advancing age in SAM-P/8.