Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biochemical changes of rat brain membranes with aging

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Neurochemical Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Modification of membrane composition and enzymatic activities both in total brain homogenate and purified synaptic plasma membrane of 3 and 24 month old rats has been investigated. Protein, cholesterol and phospholipid content and (Na+, K+)ATPase and 2′, 3′ cyclic nucleotide phosphohydrolase activities were determined. The major changes occurred in the whole homogenate where a general increase in total protein and cholesterol content with age and a significant increase of the cholesterol/phospholipids molar ratio has been detected. In S.P.M. aging process induced a decrease of protein, cholesterol and phospholipids content associated with an increased membrane viscosity and a decrease of ΔE. These data are consistent with a change in the structural organization and in the distribution pattern of different cell population in the aging brain. A possible artifactual effect of freezing on the reported parameter is also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gaiti, A., Brunetti, M., Piccinin, G. L., Woelk, H., andPorcellati, G. 1982. The synthesis in vivo of choline and ethanolamine phosphoglycerides in different brain areas during aging. Lipids 17:291–296.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Brunetti, M., Gaiti, A., andPorcellati, G. (1979). Synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine at different ages in the rat brain in vitro. Lipids 14:925–931.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Gaiti, A., Sitkievicz, D., Brunetti, M., andPorcellati, G. 1981. Phospholipid metabolism in neuronal and glial cells during aging. Neurochem. Res. 6:13–22.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Crews, F. T., Calderini, G., Battistella, A., andToffano, G. 1981. Age dependent changes in the methylation of rat brain phospholipids. Brain Res. 229:256–259.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Shinitzky, M., andBarenholz, Y. 1974. Dynamics of the hydrocarbon layer in liposomes of lecithin and sphingomyelin containing dicetylphosphate. J. Biol. Chem. 249:2652–2657.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cogan, U., Shinitzky, M., Weber, G., andNishida, T. 1973. Microviscosity and order in the hydrocarbon region of phospholipid and phospholipid-cholesterol dispersions determined with fluorescent probes. Biochemistry 12:521–528.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Coleman, R. 1973. Membrane-bound enzymes and membrane ultrastructure. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 300:1–30.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Loh, H. H., andLaw, P. Y. 1980. The role of membrane lipids in receptor mechanisms. Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 20:201–234.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Tanaka, R. 1974. Role of lipids in activation of Na+K+-dependent ATPase and K+-dependent phosphatase of the brain. Pages 181–230,in Ehrenpreis, S., andKopin, I. J. (eds.), Reviews of Neuroscience, vol. 1 Raven Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hirata, F., andAxelrod, J. 1980. Phospholipid methylation and biological signal transmission. Science 209:1082–1090.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Sun, G. Y., andSamorajski, T. 1972. Age changes in the lipid composition of whole homogenates and isolated myelin fractions of mouse brain. J. Geront. 27:10–17.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Sun, A. Y., andSun, G. Y. 1979. Neurochemical aspects of the membrane hypothesis of aging. Interdiscipl. Topics Geront. 15:34–53.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Rouser, G., Kritchevsky, G., Yamamoto, A., andBaxter, C. F. 1972. Lipids in the nervous system of different species as a function of age: brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, purified whole cell preparations, and subcellular particulates: regulatory mechanisms and membrane structure. Adv. Lipid Res. 10:261–361.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Horrocks, L. A., Sun, G. Y., andD'Amato, R. A. 1975. Changes in brain lipids during aging. Pages 359–367,in Ordy, J. M., andBrizee, K. R. (eds.), Neurobiology of Aging, Plenum Publishing Corporation, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Jones, D. H., andMatus, A. I. 1974. Isolation of synaptic plasma membrane from brain by combined flotation-sedimentation density gradient centrifugation. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 356:276–287.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Bligh, E. G., andDyer, W. J. 1959. A rapid method of total lipid extraction and purification. Can. J. Biochem. Physiol. 37:911–917.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Zlatkis, A., Zak, B., andBoyle, A. J. 1953. A new method for the direct determination of serum cholesterol. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 41:486–492.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Baginski, E. S., Foa', P. P., andZak, B. 1967. Microdetermination of inorganic phosphate, phospholipids, and total phosphate in biologic materials. Clin. Chem. 13:326–332.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, N. J., Farr, A. L., andRandall, R. J. 1951. Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem. 193:265–275.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Evans, W. H. 1978. Preparation and characterization of mammalian plasma membranes, pages 107–108, Elsevier North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Olafson, R. W., Drummond, G. I., andLee, J. F. 1969. Studies on 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide-3′-phosphohydrolase from brain. Can. J. Biochem. 47:961–966.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Shinitzky, M., andBarenholz, Y. 1978. Fluidity parameters of lipid regions determined by fluorescence polarization. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 515:367–394.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Kurihara, T., andTsukada, Y. 1967. The regional and subcellular distribution of 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphohydrolase in the central nervous system. J. Neurochem. 14:1167–1174.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Bonetti, A. C., Battistella, A., Calderini, G., Teolato, S., Crews, F. T., Gaiti, A., Algeri, S., andToffano, G. 1983. Biochemical alterations in the mechanisms of synaptic transmission in aging brain. Pages 171–181,in Samuel, D., Algeri, S., Gershon, S., Grimm, V. E., andToffano, G. (eds.), The Aging of the Brain (Aging Vol. 22). Raven Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Crews, F. T., Majchrowicz, E., andMeeks, R. Changes in cortical synaptosomal plasma membrane fluidity and composition in ethanol dependent rats. Submitted.

  26. Kabara, J. J. 1973. A critical review of brain cholesterol metabolism. Pages 363–382,in Ford, D. H. (ed.), Neurobiological Aspects of Maturation and Aging (Progress in Brain Research, vol. 40), Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Horrocks, L. A. 1973. Composition and metabolism of myelin phosphoglycerides during maturation and aging. Pages 383–395,in Ford, D. H. (ed.), Neurobiological Aspects of Maturation and Aging (Progress in Brain Research, vol. 40), Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Fidia Research Laboratories, Via Ponte della Fabbrica 3/A, 35031, Abano Terme, Italy

    Gabriella Calderini, Anna Chiara Bonetti, Antonio Battistella & Gino Toffano

  2. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics The J. Hillis Miller Health Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Box J-267, 32610, Gainesville, Florida

    Fulton Timm Crews

Authors
  1. Gabriella Calderini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anna Chiara Bonetti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Antonio Battistella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Fulton Timm Crews
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gino Toffano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Calderini, G., Bonetti, A.C., Battistella, A. et al. Biochemical changes of rat brain membranes with aging. Neurochem Res 8, 483–492 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00965104

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00965104

Keywords

Search

Navigation