AGING LHRH SYSTEM/EM IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES

这项研究旨在了解解剖学上的衰老变化， 促黄体生成激素释放激素（LHRH）系统的突触学。 动物模型是大鼠，因为这是大多数衰老的物种。 研究已经完成。 拟议研究的具体目标是 观察LHRH神经元及其树突的超微结构 视前区（POA）及其轴突和终末野位于内侧基底核 下丘脑（MBH）和正中隆起（ME）的雄性大鼠，使用成年 (2-4月）、中年（10-12月）和老年（22-24月）动物。 年龄 将观察到这些神经元与其 他们的情感环境。 LHRH释放的四种调节剂， 这些研究选择了已知受老化影响的： 去甲肾上腺素神经降压素β-内啡肽和血清素 形态测定 将对免疫细胞化学鉴定的成分进行分析，包括 核周成分（核，核仁，粗面内质网， 高尔基体）、树突、轴突终末和突触前和突触后 特色 电子显微镜、免疫细胞化学 研究分为三类： 1.大鼠LHRH神经元超微结构和突触学的增龄性变化 的POA。 a. LHRH神经元的形态计量学分析和突触学研究 B. LHRH神经元的去甲肾上腺素能输入分析 C.神经降压素与LHRH神经元相互关系的研究 2. MBH超微结构和LHRH神经元输入的增龄变化 a. LHRH突起的突触学及其形态计量学研究 彼此之间的关系及其情感环境 B. LHRH过程和β-内啡肽神经元的分析 C. LHRH过程的胆碱能输入分析 3. LHRH轴突超微结构的增龄性变化及其邻近神经元的变化 正中隆起的有孔毛细血管

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.