AGE-RELATED CHANGES OF SUBSTANTIA NIGRA OF THE RAT BRAIN:Ⅱ.QUANTITATIVE ANALYTICAL STUDY ON ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY BY USING IMAGE ANALYSIS SYSTEM / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

By means of pharmacohistochemical regimen method and image analysis system,the age-related changes of acetylcholinesterase activity of the substantia nigra neu-rons and the number and size(section area)of the AChE positive neurons in ratswere investigated quantitatively.The results showed that the number of AChE pos-itive neurons in the substantia nigra of the old rats decreased markedly,the rateand quantity of AChE synthesis in the perikaryon remarkable declined.The size(section area)of the AChE positive neurons also reduced with aging.These changeswith aging have never been studied in human or usual experimental animals,so thatsome new parameters were provided for the research field in experimental geronto-logy.In human and animal,the degeneration of the neurons in substantia nigra cau-sed by aging would disturb the balance between dopaminergic and acetylcholinergicsystem and hence interfere with the normal coordination of movement.