Open AccessAge and Sex-Related Changes in Rat Brain Mitochondrial Function
Author(s) -
Rocío Guevara,
Magdalena Gianotti,
Pilar Roca,
Jordi Oliver
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
cellular physiology and biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.486
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1421-9778
pISSN - 1015-8987
DOI - 10.1159/000327945
Subject(s) - mitochondrion , mitochondrial dna , sexual dimorphism , biology , function (biology) , oxidative phosphorylation , endocrinology , medicine , oxidative stress , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , gene
Aging is responsible for the decline in the function of mitochondria and their increase in size and number--adaptive mechanism to restore mitochondrial function. Estrogens increase mitochondrial function, especially in female rats. The aim of this study was to determine the age-related changes in rat brain mitochondrial function focusing on sex differences. Cellular and mitochondrial protein and DNA content, mitochondrial oxidative and phosphorylative function in male and female rat brain from four different age groups (6, 12, 18 and 24 months old) were analyzed. Mitochondria protein/DNA content decreased with aging shifting toward lesser mitochondrial functional capacity and the mitochondria number increased. A sex dimorphism was determined, with female rat brain showing mitochondria with greater functional capacity than males. These sex differences gradually increased during aging.