The influence of dietary restriction, germ-free status, and aging on adrenal catecholamines in Lobund-Wistar rats.

Adrenal catecholamines (CA) were measured in 6-, 18-, and 30-mo Lobund-Wistar rats (LWR) maintained under germ-free or conventional conditions and fed either ad libitum or a restricted (70% of adult ad libitum) diet. Levels of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and dihydroxymandelic acid (DHMA) were determined by HPLC-EC. Compared with values from 6- and 18-mo rats, mean adrenal weight, DA and NE content and concentration, and E content were increased in the 30-mo rats; E concentration was not. The ratio of E:NE declined in the 30-mo group. Germ-free status and dietary restriction had little effect in modulating these age-related changes. Reanalysis of adrenal weights of 30-mo rats revealed two clear subgroups, hyperplastic and non-hyperplastic; the data from hyperplastic adrenals revealed an exaggerated form of the "aged" CA profile, whereas data from the nonhyperplastic adrenals more closely resembled that of younger rats. Thus, aging in LWR is associated with adrenal hyperplasia and a tendency toward elevated adrenomedullary stores of DA and NE, while E stores are maintained near levels found in young rats.