Age-related modification of enzyme activities in synaptosomes isolated from rat cerebral cortex

In synaptosomes from rat cerebral cortex, the potential catalytic activity of some enzymes related to energy metabolism--namely, phosphofructokinase and citrate synthase--is not affected by aging. In contrast, the maximum velocity (Vmax) of cytochrome oxidase and of pyruvate dehydrogenase decreases in aged rats. A marked increase is found in the Vmax of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in aged rats and could be related to the availability of NADPH for antiperoxidative processes. Pretreatments of experimental animals with certain drugs were done to investigate the plasticity of enzyme proteins during aging. Papaverine, which acts on macrocirculation, is ineffective, but delta-yohimbine acting on microcirculation and metabolism and almitrine acting on oxygen availability both could interfere with the potential activity of some enzymes. However, their influence differs with the age of the rats.