Abstract
The cerebella of SAMP8 (accelerated aging mouse) and SAMR1 controls were analyzed by Western Blotting of tyrosine hydroxylase and choline acetyltransferase, as well as by TUNEL and histological silver staining. Both tyrosine hydroxylase and choline acetyltransferase levels were higher in SAMR1 than in SAMP8. There was also an age-related decrease in enzyme levels in SAMP8, with the reduction of tyrosine hydroxylase being more apparent. Concomitantly, there was an age-related increase of apoptosis in the medial neocerebellum and the vermis as revealed by TUNEL, with changes being significant in the SAMP8 strain. Histologically, some Purkinje cells appeared to disappear during aging. Taken together, the data suggests that the aging SAMP8 strain displays differential Purkinje cell death in the medial cerebellum and that some of the dying cells are likely to be catecholaminergic.
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Zhu, Y., Lee, C.C.L., Lam, W.P. et al. Cell death in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum of senescence accelerated mouse (SAMP8). Biogerontology 8, 537–544 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-007-9097-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-007-9097-3