Regional analysis of rat brain proteins during senescence

Brains of male Fischer-344 rats aged 3-4 months and 28-30 months were dissected into 11 regions, and the patterns of brain proteins in these regions were analyzed using two dimensional gel electrophoresis in conjunction with a sensitive silver stain detection method. Several hundred abundant and moderately abundant brain proteins were detected in each region using this method. At 3-4 months, most proteins were present in approximately equal amounts in each of the 11 regions. On the whole, this distribution was maintained as a function of age. One protein of 21 kdal pI 5.1 was present in the cerebellum in greater amount than the other regions at both 3-4 months and 28-30 months. Two proteins, 44 kdal pI 5.4 and 47 kdal pI 5.2 were present at increased levels in the inferior colliculus of 28-30 month animals compared to 3-4 month animals. Of the abundant and moderately abundant brain proteins detected by this method, there were none which showed major decreases in levels as a function of age. These results provide support for the concept that the molecular mechanisms which result in differential gene expression in different regions of the young adult rat brain are operative and are maintained in the brains of senescent rats.