Kotz Catherine M, Weldon Derik, Billington Charles J, Levine Allen S
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.
Neurobiol Aging. 2004 Nov-Dec;25(10):1343-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2004.02.025.
Dynorphin has a well-established role in feeding and gustation. Alterations in taste perception and feeding behavior are common with age. We hypothesized that proDynorphin gene expression in brain areas involved in taste and feeding declines with age. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were housed individually with ad libitum access to food and water. Brain punches of the selected regions were dissected out in groups of rats aged 4-6, 12-14 and 18-21 months. ProDynorphin mRNA (measured using a cDNA probe) decreased significantly with age in arcuate nucleus and amygdala; increased significantly with age in hippocampus; and was not significantly affected in nucleus of the solitary tract, cortex, caudate putamen or hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. These data suggest an age-related decrease in the synthesis of dynorphin in two brain regions strongly associated with feeding behavior, and an increase in dynorphin synthesis in a brain region associated with learning and memory.
强啡肽在进食和味觉方面具有公认的作用。味觉感知和进食行为的改变随着年龄增长很常见。我们假设，参与味觉和进食的脑区中前强啡肽基因表达会随着年龄下降。将雄性斯普拉格-道利大鼠单独饲养，自由获取食物和水。从4至6个月、12至14个月和18至21个月龄的大鼠组中取出选定区域的脑片。前强啡肽mRNA（使用cDNA探针测量）在弓状核和杏仁核中随年龄显著下降；在海马体中随年龄显著增加；在孤束核、皮质、尾状壳核或下丘脑室旁核中未受到显著影响。这些数据表明，与进食行为密切相关的两个脑区中强啡肽的合成随年龄减少，而与学习和记忆相关的脑区中强啡肽的合成增加。
