Does aging alter the molecular substrate of ionotropic neurotransmitter receptors in the rostral ventral lateral medulla? - A short communication.

Does aging alter the molecular substrate of ionotropic neurotransmitter receptors in the rostral ventral lateral medulla? - A short communication. Exp Gerontol. 2017 Mar 02;: Authors: Pawar HN, Balivada S, Kenney MJ Abstract Aging alters sympathetic nervous system (SNS) regulation, although central mechanisms are not well understood. In young rats the rostral ventral lateral medulla (RVLM) is critically involved in central SNS regulation and RVLM neuronal activity is mediated by a balance of excitatory and inhibitory ionotropic neurotransmitters and receptors, providing the foundation for hypothesizing that with advanced age the molecular substrate of RVLM ionotropic receptors is characterized by upregulated excitatory and downregulated inhibitory receptor subunits. This hypothesis was tested by comparing the relative mRNA expression and protein concentration of RVLM excitatory (NMDA and AMPA) and inhibitory (GABA and glycinergic) ionotropic neurotransmitter receptor subunits in young and aged Fischer (F344) rats. Brains were removed from anesthetized rats and the RVLM-containing area was micropunched and extracted RNA and protein were subsequently used for TaqMan qRT-PCR gene expression and quantitative ELISA analyses. Bilateral chemical inactivation of RVLM neurons and peripheral ganglionic blockade on visceral sympathetic nerve discharge (SND) was determined in additional experiments. The relative gene expression of RVLM NMDA and ...
Source: Experimental Gerontology - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Tags: Exp Gerontol Source Type: research