Acetylcholine, aging and anatomy: differential effects in the hippocampus

Brain ResearchPublished 1 January 1986

Henry J. Haigler, Larry Cahill, Michael Crager, Eliot Charles

DOI10.1016/0006-8993(86)91409-5

Source URL

Citations42

SJR quartileQ2

SJR score0.85

SNIP0.72

TL;DR

The response to acetylcholine administered microiontophoretically was determined for single units in CA1 and CA3-4 areas of the hippocampi of both young and old rats, indicating that the differential response to ACh as a function of area cannot be attributed to a difference in baseline firing rate.

Abstract

The response to acetylcholine (ACh) administered microiontophoretically was determined for single units in CA1 and CA3-4 areas of the hippocampi of both young (3-5 months) and old (24-26 months) Fisher 344 rats. Single units in CA1 showed a greater response to ACh (20 nA) than single units in CA3-4 in young and in old rats. However, the response to ACh in single units of young rats was significantly greater than in single units of old rats. Baseline firing rates in old rats were lower than those in young rats. However, there was no difference in baseline firing rates between the two areas of the hippocampus indicating that the differential response to ACh as a function of area cannot be attributed to a difference in baseline firing rate.

Keywords

MedicineNeuroscience

ScienceThe Cholinergic Hypothesis of Geriatric Memory Dysfunction

5,552 Citations1982Raymond T. Bartus, Reginald L. Dean +2 more

Biochemical, electrophysiological, and pharmacological evidence supporting a role for cholinergic dysfunction in age-related memory disturbances is critically reviewed and an attempt has been made to identify pseudoissues, resolve certain controversies, and clarify misconceptions that have occurred in the literature.

ScienceAlzheimer's Disease: Cell-Specific Pathology Isolates the Hippocampal Formation

2,272 Citations1984Bradley T. Hyman, Gary W. Van Hoesen +2 more

Examination of temporal lobe structures from Alzheimer patients reveals a specific cellular pattern of pathology of the subiculum of the hippocampal formation and layers II and IV of the entorhinal cortex that isolates the hippocampus from much of its input and output and probably contributes to the memory disorder in Alzheimer patients.

StrokeA new model of bilateral hemispheric ischemia in the unanesthetized rat.

1,939 Citations1979W. A. Pulsinelli, J. B. Brierley

A new model of transient, bilateral hemispheric ischemia in the unanesthetized rat is described, with the ease of preparation of large numbers of animals, a high rate of predictable ischemic neuronal damage, a low incidence of seizures and the absence of anesthesia.

View PDF

Archives of NeurologyHuman Memory and the Cholinergic System

1,392 Citations1974David A. Drachman

Comparisons of the memory and cognitive deficits induced by scopolamine with the performance of aged subjects revealed a marked similarity of pattern, and the possible theoretical explanations for the behavioral similarity seen with central cholinergic blockade and normal aging are discussed.

Neurobiology of AgingAge-related alterations in the rodent brain cholinergic system and behavior

240 Citations1980Randy Strong, Paul B. Hicks +3 more

It is demonstrated that changes in the cholinergic system occur naturally in aged mice and rats and that both the loss of Cholinergic receptors and decrease in cat activity may contribute to the motor and mental impairments that often accompany old age.

Neurobiology of AgingAge-related alterations in neurotransmitter receptors: An electrophysiological and biochemical analysis

168 Citations1981Arnold Lippa, D.J. Critchett +4 more

The neuronal activity of hippocampal pyramidal cells is reduced in aged rats, an effect which might contribute to the mnemonic disturbances observed in these animals, and provides strong evidence for the cholinergic hypothesis of geriatric cognitive dysfunction.

NeuropharmacologyThe cholinergic pharmacology of hippocampal pyramidal cells: A microiontophoretic study

127 Citations1976Stephanie J. Bird, George K. Aghajanian

It was concluded that hippocampal pyramidal cells are responsive to muscarinic and some nicotinic agents and these agents are not acting at two independent receptors since there is crossover between Nicotinic antagonists and mus carinic agonists.

Neurochemical ResearchAging and rat brain muscarinic receptors as measured by quinuclidinyl benzilate binding

102 Citations1980Anne M. Morin, Claude G. Wasterlain

Binding data indicate the observed decrease in specific ligand binding is due to a decrease in number of binding sites while receptor affinity does not appear to change.

Brain ResearchDenervation supersensitivity in the cholinergic septo-hippocampal pathway: A microiontophoretic study

82 Citations1975Stephanie J. Bird, George K. Aghajanian

It is concluded that denervation supersensitivity to ACh occurs in the septo-hippocampal pathway; and the supersensitivity is probably due to decreased inactivation of ACh by AChE.

Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMorphine and methionine-enkephalin: different effects on spontaneous and evoked neuronal firing in the mesencephalic reticular formation of the rat.

27 Citations1980David A. Hosford, Henry J. Haigler

The effects of morphine and met-enkephalin on spontaneous firing did not correlate with their effect on evoked firing, indicating that there may be more than one type of opiate receptor in the mesencephalic reticular formation.