MOVEMENT FUNCTIONS IN AGING RHESUS MONKEYS

僵硬、运动迟缓、震颤和步态问题增多 随着年龄的增长，出现了一些问题。 这些运动 功能障碍与发病率的显著增加有关 和老年人的死亡率。 我们对恒河猴的研究 初步侧重于描绘与年龄相关的 黑质纹状体系统的变化和运动功能的下降 在正常的老化过程中。 我们的研究项目 旨在严格检验四个假设。 假设1： 恒河猴的运动功能下降， 在人类身上看到的。 假设2：有一个渐进的， 恒河猴黑质纹状体多巴胺能功能的持续性变化 猴子随着年龄 假设3：有一个渐进的连续 恒河猴中脑多巴胺神经元的衰老丧失。 假设4：黑质纹状体多巴胺能神经元的上调 系统中的老年恒河猴脑内管理 有效的多巴胺能营养因子GDNF改善运动 功能协调发展的 该计划项目分为三个研究 由两个核心单位支持的项目。 项目1-3是 仔细整合和协调，以分析运动功能， 恒河猴黑质纹状体多巴胺能系统。 一个 行政核心支持所有三个项目，协调 收集、汇集和分析数据。 灵长类核心设施 监督和协调所有恒河猴的使用， 问题研究

Increasing problems with rigidity, bradykinesia, tremor and gait disturbances are seen with advancing age. These movement dysfunctions are associated with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Our studies in rhesus monkeys will initially focus on delineating the relationship between age-associated changes in the nigrostriatal system and the decline in motor functions during normal aging processes. Our research program project has been designed to critically test four hypotheses. Hypothesis 1: that rhesus monkeys undergo declines in motor functions which closely model those seen in humans. Hypothesis 2: that there is a gradual, continuous change in nigrostriatal dopaminergic function in rhesus monkeys with age. Hypothesis 3: that there is a gradual continuous loss of midbrain dopamine neurons in rhesus monkeys in aging. Hypothesis 4: that upregulation of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in older rhesus monkeys by intracerebral administrations of the potent dopaminergic trophic factor GDNF improves motor functions. The program project is organized into three research projects which are supported by two core units. Projects 1-3 are carefully integrated and coordinated to analyze motor function and the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in rhesus monkeys. An Administrative Core supports all three projects, coordinating collection, pooling and analysis of data. A Primate Core Facility supervises and coordinates the use of all rhesus monkeys in these studies.