The release of sympathetic neurotransmitters is impaired in aged rats after an inflammatory stimulus: A possible link between cytokine production and sympathetic transmission

Donoso, V; Gomez, CR; Orriantia, MA; Pérez V; Torres C.; Coddou, C.; Nelson, P.; Maisey, K; Morales, B; Fernandez, R.; Imarai M.; Huidobro-Toro, JP; Sierra, F; Acuna-Castillo, C

Abstract

Aging results in a general decline in the response to external insults, including acute inflammatory challenges. In young animals, the inflammatory response requires activation of the sympathetic system, including neurotransmitters such as ATP, and catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine). To test whether aging affects activation of this axis, and whether this in turn might affect cytokine release, we administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS) i.p. to adult, middle-aged and aged Fisher 344 rats (6-, 15- and 23-month old, respectively) and evaluated the early (0-12 h) serum levels of Neuropeptide-Y (NP-Y), ATP and vanillyl mandelic acid (VMA, as an indirect measurement of catecholamine levels). In addition, we evaluated the association between these factors and serum levels of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Induction of both ATP and NP-Y was markedly reduced in the serum of aged animals, when compared to their younger counterparts, while induction of VMA was not affected by age. In spite of these changes, serum levels of TNFα and IL-10 were strongly hyper induced and delayed in aged rats. The results suggest that during aging there is a dysregulation in sympathetic neurotransmitter regulatory mechanisms, and this might play a role in the impairment of the inflammatory response. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

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Título según WOS: The release of sympathetic neurotransmitters is impaired in aged rats after an inflammatory stimulus: A possible link between cytokine production and sympathetic transmission
Título según SCOPUS: The release of sympathetic neurotransmitters is impaired in aged rats after an inflammatory stimulus: A possible link between cytokine production and sympathetic transmission
Título de la Revista: MECHANISMS OF AGEING AND DEVELOPMENT
Volumen: 129
Número: 12
Editorial: ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
Fecha de publicación: 2008
Página de inicio: 728
Página final: 734
Idioma: English
URL: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S004763740800184X
DOI:

10.1016/j.mad.2008.09.018

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS