Changes in the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are known to occur in different parts of the brain during aging. In our study we attempted to define the effect that aging has on glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), the key enzyme in the synthesis of GABA, in the central parts of the auditory system. Age-related changes in GAD65 and GAD67 levels were investigated using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting in the inferior colliculus (IC), the auditory cortex (AC) and the visual cortex in Long-Evans rats. The results show that aging is associated with a decrease in the numbers of GAD65- and 67-immunoreactive neurons and the optical density of their somas in both the IC and AC. Western blot analysis revealed a pronounced age-related decline in the levels of GAD65 and 67 proteins in both the IC and AC. For comparison, in the visual cortex the decrease in both proteins was less pronounced than in the IC and AC. A similar pattern of age-related changes was found in Fischer 344 rats, a strain that manifests a rapid loss of hearing function with aging. The observed age-related decline in the levels of GAD65 and 67 may contribute significantly to the deterioration of hearing function that accompanies aging in mammals, including man.

• MeSH
• analýza rozptylu MeSH
• colliculus inferior metabolismus   MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• GABA metabolismus   fyziologie   MeSH
• glutamát dekarboxyláza metabolismus   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• potkani inbrední F344 MeSH
• potkani Long-Evans MeSH
• presbyakuze metabolismus   MeSH
• protein - isoformy analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• sluchové korové centrum metabolismus   MeSH
• stárnutí metabolismus   MeSH
• western blotting metody   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• GABA MeSH
• glutamát dekarboxyláza MeSH
• protein - isoformy MeSH