Age related changes in blood-to-brain amino acid transport and incorporation into brain protein

Blood-to-brain amino acid transport consists of at least two components: 1. a fast rate or early process, commonly measured by the intra-carotid bolus injection method and attributed to transport across the capillary endothelium and entry into the astrocytes, and, 2. a slow rate or later component measured over 2 to 15 minutes probably associated with exit from the astrocytes and entry into the neurons. Incorporation into brain protein is temporally related to the second process. In the present study the slow and fast rate transport components and the incorporation into brain protein of tyrosine (Tyr) and Valine (Val) was measured in young adult and aged male C57BL/6 mice. The results indicate that the fast rate transport component is unaffected by age while the rates of the slow process and protein turnover show an exponential decline most marked between 3 and 8 months of age. Changes in the relative incorporation of Tyr and Val suggest that brain protein metabolism is altered qualitatively as well as quantitatively in aging, in these animals.