Open AccessGender- and region-specific changes in estrogen signaling in aging rat brain mitochondria
Author(s) -
Christopher M Evola,
Tanner L Hudson,
Lüping Huang,
Adrian M. Corbett,
Debra A. Mayes
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
aging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 90
ISSN - 1945-4589
DOI - 10.18632/aging.101538
Subject(s) - neuroprotection , biology , mitochondrion , epigenetics , estrogen , microbiology and biotechnology , estrogen receptor , endocrinology , neuroscience , mitochondrial biogenesis , signal transduction , medicine , genetics , gene , cancer , breast cancer
Recently epidemiological studies suggest females lose neuroprotection from neurodegenerative diseases as they go through menopause. It has been hypothesized that this neuroprotection is hormone-dependent. The current study characterized cell signaling molecules downstream of estrogen receptor beta that are known to play a role in memory, PKC, ERK, and connexin-43, in regions of the brain associated with memory decline in an attempt to elucidate significant changes that occur post-estrus. Total whole cell lysates were compared to isolated mitochondrial protein because mitochondrial function is known to be altered during aging. As hypothesized, protein concentrations differed depending on age, gender, and brain region. Additionally, many of these changes occurred within mitochondria but not within whole cell lysates indicating that these are epigenetic alterations. These findings accentuate the complexity of aging and provide insight into the gender-specific cellular processes that occur throughout this process.