The overall goals of the proposed research are three-fold. First, we will examine the temporal patterns of age-correlated morphological changes in neurotransmitter and neuropeptide neurons of the striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen) and substantia nigra (SN) in the C57BL/6NNia mouse using integrated immunocytochemical, histochemical, and Golgi staining methods and correlate anatomical changes with deficits in extrapyramidal motor function using behavioral tests to record coordination and balance. Secondly, we will investigate the plasticity of striatal neurons of the aged basal ganglia by examining the linear density of dendritic spines on target neurons of the striatum to determine if dietary restriction protocols known to retard age-related loss of striatal dopamine receptors also may alter morphologically the density of spines on striatal target dendrites. Again, we will correlate structural changes with functional and biochemical (dopamine receptors) alterations. Third, we will initiate a study of age correlated changes in human postmortem striatum using Golgi staining and computer assisted tracing techniques to assess: 1) dendritic receptive fields of striatal neurons for compensatory growth or regression, and 2) changes in the linear density of dendritic spines on medium spiny neurons which may accompany old age. Data from these studies will provide information fundamental to our understanding of morphological and biochemical changes of striatal neurons associated with advancing age in both rodent and human brain and insight into the more general question of plasticity and trophic interaction between neurons of the basal ganglia and dopaminergic afferents of the SN in senescence. In addition, these studies will provide a better understanding of whether age-related changes in motor function result from alterations of afferent synaptic dopaminergic input to specific cell types in the striatum and/or in target neurons of the striatum to which they project.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Modified Research Career Development Award (K04)
Project #
1K04AG000300-01
Application #
3070484
Study Section
Neurology B Subcommittee 1 (NEUB)
Project Start
1985-09-30
Project End
1990-08-31
Budget Start
1985-09-30
Budget End
1986-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Rochester
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
208469486
City
Rochester
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14627
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McNeill, T H; Koek, L L (1990) Differential effects of advancing age on neurotransmitter cell loss in the substantia nigra and striatum of C57BL/6N mice. Brain Res 521:107-17
Unger, J; McNeill, T H; Moxley 3rd, R T et al. (1989) Distribution of insulin receptor-like immunoreactivity in the rat forebrain. Neuroscience 31:143-57
Rafols, J A; Cheng, H W; McNeill, T H (1989) Golgi study of the mouse striatum: age-related dendritic changes in different neuronal populations. J Comp Neurol 279:212-27
Unger, J W; McNeill, T H; Lapham, L L et al. (1988) Neuropeptides and neuropathology in the amygdala in Alzheimer's disease: relationship between somatostatin, neuropeptide Y and subregional distribution of neuritic plaques. Brain Res 452:293-302
Williams, W M; Reichman, M; McNeill, T H (1988) Cerebral microvascular and parenchymal phospholipid composition in the mouse. Neurochem Res 13:743-7

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