The objective of this project is to investigate the manner in which the aging process affects somatomotor activity during the behavioral states of sleep and wakefulness. Our experimental paradigms are oriented to provide basic data relating to the modulation of the membrane potential of spinal cord lumbar motoneurons and the control of these cells by the reticular formation during sleep and wakefulness in age-documented adult and old cats. As the initial step in this endeavor we propose to examine the fundamental electrophysiological characteristics of lumbar and reticular neurons under acute conditions to obtain as broad a perspective of different aspects of neural activity as possible. The proposed studies should allow us to (1) generate a normative fund of information relating to age-related decrements in the functioning of spinal cord motor mechanisms and their control by the reticular formation in acute and chronic conditions and (2) develop correlated morphological data based upon the injection of horseradish perodixase into the lumbar and reticular neurons from which electrophysiological data have been obtained. Alpha motoneurons of the cat lumbar spinal cord are perhaps the most intensively studied class of mammalian nerve cells. Thus, the age-related deficits in different electrophysiological and morphological indices of function in these neurons may provide a microcosm of interrelated time-dependent changes throughout the nervous system. We also hope to generate data that will provide a basis for understanding some of the neuronal processes underlying one of the most debilitating pathologies of old age--Alzheimer's disease. In our old cats we have already found in these """"""""cholinergic"""""""" neurons, aged changes which are comparable to those reported in humans suffering from this disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG004307-03
Application #
3115063
Study Section
(BPNB)
Project Start
1983-04-01
Project End
1988-03-31
Budget Start
1985-04-01
Budget End
1986-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
119132785
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095
Torterolo, Pablo; Sampogna, Sharon; Morales, Francisco R et al. (2006) MCH-containing neurons in the hypothalamus of the cat: searching for a role in the control of sleep and wakefulness. Brain Res 1119:101-14
Zhang, Jian-Hua; Sampogna, Sharon; Morales, Francisco R et al. (2005) Age-related ultrastructural changes in hypocretinergic terminals in the brainstem and spinal cord of cats. Neurosci Lett 373:171-4
Pose, Ines; Fung, Simon; Sampogna, Sharon et al. (2005) Nitrergic innervation of trigeminal and hypoglossal motoneurons in the cat. Brain Res 1041:29-37
McGregor, R; Damian, A; Fabbiani, G et al. (2005) Direct hypothalamic innervation of the trigeminal motor nucleus: a retrograde tracer study. Neuroscience 136:1073-81
Zhang, Jian-Hua; Sampogna, Sharon; Morales, Francisco R et al. (2005) Age-related changes in cholinergic neurons in the laterodorsal and the pedunculo-pontine tegmental nuclei of cats: a combined light and electron microscopic study. Brain Res 1052:47-55
Xi, Ming-Chu; Morales, Francisco R; Chase, Michael H (2004) Interactions between GABAergic and cholinergic processes in the nucleus pontis oralis: neuronal mechanisms controlling active (rapid eye movement) sleep and wakefulness. J Neurosci 24:10670-8
Yamuy, Jack; Fung, Simon J; Xi, Mingchu et al. (2004) Hypocretinergic control of spinal cord motoneurons. J Neurosci 24:5336-45
Engelhardt, John K; Fung, Simon J; Yamuy, Jack et al. (2004) The unique inhibitory potentials in motoneurons that occur during active sleep are comprised of minimal unitary potentials. Brain Res 1018:26-31
Torterolo, Pablo; Yamuy, Jack; Sampogna, Sharon et al. (2003) Hypocretinergic neurons are primarily involved in activation of the somatomotor system. Sleep 26:25-8
Xi, Ming Chu; Fung, Simon J; Yamuy, Jack et al. (2003) Hypocretinergic facilitation of synaptic activity of neurons in the nucleus pontis oralis of the cat. Brain Res 976:253-8

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