Aging decreases the abundance of retinoic acid (RAR) and triiodothyronine (TR) nuclear receptor mRNA in rat brain: effect of the administration of retinoids

FEBS Lett. 1997 Aug 4;412(3):629-32. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(97)00845-4.

Abstract

Aging is accompanied by troubles resulting from changes in hormonal and nutritional status. Therefore, the abundance of mRNA coding for triiodothyronine (TR) and retinoic acid (RA) nuclear receptors was studied in the brain of young, adult and aged (2.5, 6 and 24 months, respectively) rats. In the brain of aged rats, there was a lower abundance of TR and RAR mRNA and a lower activity of tissue transglutaminase (tTG), an enzyme the gene of which is a target for retinoids. Administration of RA in these rats restored TR and RAR mRNA and the activity of tTG in the brain. The importance of these observations to the function of the aged brain is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aging / drug effects
  • Aging / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Diterpenes
  • Intubation, Gastrointestinal
  • Male
  • RNA, Messenger / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / physiology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid / drug effects
  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid / physiology
  • Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / drug effects
  • Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Thyroid Hormone / physiology
  • Retinyl Esters
  • Tretinoin / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamin A / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin A / analogs & derivatives*

Substances

  • Diterpenes
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid
  • Receptors, Thyroid Hormone
  • Retinyl Esters
  • Vitamin A
  • retinol acetate
  • Tretinoin