TY - JOUR
T1 - Age-related changes in noradrenergic sympathetic innervation of the rat spleen is strain dependent
AU - Bellinger, Denise
AU - Tran, Lily
AU - Kang, Joey I.
AU - Lubahn, Cheri
AU - Felten, David L.
AU - Lorton, Dianne
N1 - Brain Behav Immun. 2002 Jun;16(3):247-61. Comparative Study; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Previous findings from our laboratory revealed an age-related decline in noradrenergic (NA) sympathetic innervation of the spleen in male Fischer 344 (F344) rats. The purpose of this study was to determine whether other rat strains also progressively lose NA sympathetic nerves in the aging spleen. Sympathetic innervation of spleens from 3- and 21-month-old male F344, Brown Norway (BN), BN X F344 (BNF1), and Lewis rats was examined using fluorescence histochemistry to localize catecholamines combined with morphometric analysis and using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection for measuring norepinephrine (NE). Neurochemistry revealed a significant age-related decline in NE concentrations in spleens from F344 and Lewis rats. In contrast, there was no effect of age on splenic NE concentrations in BN or BNF1 rats. Consistent with neurochemical analysis, fluorescence histochemistry revealed a striking decline in NA innervation of spleens from old F344 and Lewis rats not observed in the other two strains. However, in BN and BNF1 rats, nerve fibers were diminished in distal portions of the spleen but not in the hilar regions. Morphometric analysis confirmed neurochemical and histological findings, revealing approximately 65-70% loss in NA nerve density in spleens from F344 and Lewis rats. These findings indicate that age-related changes in sympathetic innervation of the rat spleen are strain-dependent. Whether the loss of sympathetic nerves in spleens from F344 and Lewis rats is associated with age-related changes in the splenic microenvironment remains to be determined. The functional significance of altered sympathetic innevation of the spleen with advancing age is discussed.
AB - Previous findings from our laboratory revealed an age-related decline in noradrenergic (NA) sympathetic innervation of the spleen in male Fischer 344 (F344) rats. The purpose of this study was to determine whether other rat strains also progressively lose NA sympathetic nerves in the aging spleen. Sympathetic innervation of spleens from 3- and 21-month-old male F344, Brown Norway (BN), BN X F344 (BNF1), and Lewis rats was examined using fluorescence histochemistry to localize catecholamines combined with morphometric analysis and using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection for measuring norepinephrine (NE). Neurochemistry revealed a significant age-related decline in NE concentrations in spleens from F344 and Lewis rats. In contrast, there was no effect of age on splenic NE concentrations in BN or BNF1 rats. Consistent with neurochemical analysis, fluorescence histochemistry revealed a striking decline in NA innervation of spleens from old F344 and Lewis rats not observed in the other two strains. However, in BN and BNF1 rats, nerve fibers were diminished in distal portions of the spleen but not in the hilar regions. Morphometric analysis confirmed neurochemical and histological findings, revealing approximately 65-70% loss in NA nerve density in spleens from F344 and Lewis rats. These findings indicate that age-related changes in sympathetic innervation of the rat spleen are strain-dependent. Whether the loss of sympathetic nerves in spleens from F344 and Lewis rats is associated with age-related changes in the splenic microenvironment remains to be determined. The functional significance of altered sympathetic innevation of the spleen with advancing age is discussed.
KW - Aging
KW - Catecholamines
KW - Lymphoid organs
KW - Rats
KW - Strain differences
KW - Sympathetic nervous system
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036445663&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036445663&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1006/brbi.2001.0626
DO - 10.1006/brbi.2001.0626
M3 - Article
C2 - 12009685
SN - 0889-1591
VL - 16
SP - 247
EP - 261
JO - Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
JF - Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
IS - 3
ER -