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Decrease of Choline Acetyltransferase Activity of Rat Cortex Capillaries with Aging
Author(s) -
SantosBenito F. F.,
Gonzalez J. L.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1985.tb04034.x
Subject(s) - choline acetyltransferase , cortex (anatomy) , cerebral cortex , endocrinology , medicine , cholinergic , brain cortex , choline , chemistry , enzyme assay , enzyme , specific activity , biology , biochemistry , neuroscience
Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity was estimated in brain cortex capillaries isolated from 3‐, 12‐, 18‐, and 24‐month‐old rats. Maximum enzymatic activity was found at 12 months (55 ± 0.3 pmol · mg −1 protein · min −1 ; mean ± SEM) and then it decreased to reach a minimum at 24 months (34 ± 3.1 pmol · mg −1 protein · min −1 ). A less marked decrease of enzymatic activity was also found in cortex homogenate and in a synaptosomal fraction obtained from the same groups of rats. Loss of ChAT of brain capillaries with aging could be related to a general phenomenon of cortical cholinergic deficit in that condition.