Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9645015 | Neurobiology of Aging | 2005 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
Evidence that nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the regulation of rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS) is supported by recent studies. During aging, NO generation encounters marked changes mainly related to the activation of the inducible NO-synthase (iNOS). To investigate links existing between iNOS and REMS impairments related to aging, we examine the age-related variations occurring in: mRNA and activity of iNOS in brainstem and frontal cortex; sleep parameters under baseline and after treatment by a selective iNOS inhibitor (AMT) in Senescence Accelerated Mice (SAM). SAMR1 (control) mice are a model of aging while SAMP8 are adequate to study neurodegenerative processes. RT-PCR analysis does not reveal significant variation in iNOS mRNA expression in both strains. However, significant age-related increases in iNOS activity occur in SAMR1 but such variation is not observed in SAMP8. In baseline conditions, aging induces a slight increase in slow-wave sleep (SWS) amounts in both groups and deteriorates greatly REMS architecture in SAMP8 compared to SAMR1. AMT reduces REMS amounts for 4-6Â h after treatment in a dose and age-dependent manner in SAMR1. Almost no changes occur in SAMP8. Data reported suggest that NO derived from iNOS contributes to trigger and maintain REMS during aging.
Keywords
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Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Ageing
Authors
Damien Colas, Laurent Bezin, Abdallah Gharib, Anne Morales, Raymond Cespuglio, Nicole Sarda,