Comparison of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase and melatonin receptor type 1B immunoreactivity between young adult and aged canine spinal cord
Journal of Veterinary Science
;
: 335-342, 2014.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-194865
ABSTRACT
Melatonin affects diverse physiological functions through its receptor and plays an important role in the central nervous system. In the present study, we compared immunoreactivity patterns of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), an enzyme essential for melatonin synthesis, and melatonin receptor type 1B (MT2) in the spinal cord of young adult (2~3 years) and aged (10~12 years) beagle dogs using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. AANAT-specific immunoreactivity was observed in the nuclei of spinal neurons, and was significantly increased in aged dog spinal neurons compared to young adult spinal neurons. MT2-specific immunoreactivity was found in the cytoplasm of spinal neurons, and was predominantly increased in the margin of the neuron cytoplasm in aged spinal cord compared to that in the young adult dogs. These increased levels of AANAT and MT2 immunoreactivity in aged spinal cord might be a feature of normal aging and associated with a feedback mechanism that compensates for decreased production of melatonin during aging.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Spinal Cord
/
Aging
/
Blotting, Western
/
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
/
Age Factors
/
Receptor, Melatonin, MT2
/
Arylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferase
Limits:
Animals
Language:
English
Journal:
Journal of Veterinary Science
Year:
2014
Type:
Article
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