AGING LHRH SYSTEM/EM IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES

这项研究旨在了解解剖学和人脑的衰老变化 促黄体生成素释放激素(LHRH)系统的突触。 动物模型是大鼠，因为这是衰老最多的物种 已经进行了研究。拟议研究的具体目标是 大鼠LHRH神经元及其树突的超微结构观察 内侧基底区视前区及其轴突和终末野 成年雄性大鼠下丘脑(MBH)和正中隆起(ME) (2-4个月)、中年(10-12个月)和老年(22-24个月)。年龄 将观察到这些神经元和它们之间的关系的变化 过程到他们的情感环境。LHRH释放的四个调制器 已知受衰老影响的人被选为这些研究的对象： 去甲肾上腺素、神经降压素、β-内啡肽和5-羟色胺。形态测量学 将对免疫细胞化学鉴定的成分进行分析，包括 核膜成分(核、核仁、粗面内质网、 高尔基体)、树突、轴突终末和突触前、后 特点。建议的电子显微镜，免疫细胞化学 研究分为三类： 1.LHRH神经元超微结构和突触结构的增龄变化 POA。 A.LHRH神经元的形态计量学分析和突触学 B.去甲肾上腺素能传入LHRH神经元的分析 C.神经降压素与LHRH神经元相互关系的研究 2.MBH的超微结构和LHRH神经元的增龄变化。 A.LHRH突起及其突触的形态计量学研究 相互之间的关系和他们的情感环境 B.LHRH突起和β-内啡肽神经元的分析 C.对LHRH过程的5-羟色胺能输入的分析 3.LHRH轴突及其邻近部位超微结构的增龄变化 正中隆起有窗的毛细血管。

This research is directed at understanding aging changes in the anatomy and synaptology of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) system. The animal model is the rat as this is the species on which most aging study has been done. The specific aims of the proposed studies are to investigate the ultrastructure of LHRH neurons and their dendrites in the preoptic area (POA) and their axons and terminal fields in the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) and median eminence (ME) in the male rat, using adult (2-4 mos), middle aged (10-12 mos) and old (22-24 mos) animals. Age changes will be observed in the relationship of these neurons and their processes to their affective milieu. Four modulators of LHRH release which are known to be affected by aging have been chosen for these studies: norepinephrine, neurotensin, beta-endorphin and serotonin. Morphometric analyses will be made of immunocytochemically identified elements including perikaryal components (nucleus, nucleoli, rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus), dendrites, axon terminals, and pre- and post-synaptic characteristics. The proposed electron microscopic, immunocytochemical studies fall into three categories: 1. Aging changes in the ultrastructure and synaptology of LHRH neurons in the POA. a. Morphometric analysis and synaptology of LHRH neurons b. Analysis of noradrenergic input to LHRH neurons c. Study of interrelation between neurotensin and LHRH neurons 2. Aging changes in ultrastructure and input to LHRH neurons in MBH. a. Morphometric study of synaptology of LHRH processes and their relationship to each other and their affective milieu b. Analysis of LHRH processes and beta-endorphin neurons c. Analysis of serotoninergic input to LHRH processes 3. Aging changes in the ultrastructure of LHRH axons and their proximity to the fenestrated capillaries of the median eminence.