Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
5
pubmed:dateCreated
2001-8-21
pubmed:abstractText
Aging is associated with a decline in the function of beta-adrenergic receptor responses in the cerebellum. This decline in noradrenergic receptor sensitivity may underlie some of the accompanying age-related declines in motoric learning behaviors. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been reported to prevent the degeneration of noradrenergic neurons following neurotoxic lesions. Thus, it was of interest to examine if GDNF would have a beneficial effect on age-related declines in noradrenergic function. Eighteen-month-old F344 rats were injected with 500 microg GDNF in 20 microl into the cisterna magna. Three weeks following GDNF or vehicle treatment, rats were tested on a motor coordination task and then examined electrophysiologically under urethane anesthesia. GDNF did not produce an improvement in performance on an inclined balance beam or an accelerating rotorod. In young (3-month-old) F344 rats isoproterenol (ISO) will increase GABAergic inhibitions in the majority of cells examined; however, in aged rats only about 30% of neurons demonstrate this phenotype. In the aged rats treated with GDNF, ISO was able to increase GABAergic inhibitions in greater than 75% of the neurons tested, thus returning the neurons to a young phenotype. We examined the brains for expression of bcl-2, which has been shown to be increased in the aged cerebellum. GDNF was able to down-regulate this neuronal signal. Thus, intra-cisterna magna delivery of GDNF to aged rats improved beta-adrenergic receptor function and reduced stress related signaling of bcl-2 in the aged F344 rats to a level similar to that observed in young rats.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
1059-910X
pubmed:author
pubmed:copyrightInfo
Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
1
pubmed:volume
54
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
309-16
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2001
pubmed:articleTitle
GDNF improves cerebellar Purkinje neuron function in aged F344 rats.
pubmed:affiliation
Veterans Administration Medical Center, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA. pbickfor@hsc.usf.edu
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study