Changes of nNOS expression in the tuberal hypothalamic nuclei during ageing

The hypothalamus is the most important integrator of autonomic and endocrine regulation in the body and it also has a fundamental role in ageing development and lifespan control. In order to better understand the role of NO-ergic system in the hypothalamic regulation of ageing, the purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the arcuate (ARC), ventromedial (VMH) and dorsomedial (DMH) hypothalamic nuclei in young (2-3-month-old) and old (24-month-old) male and female rats using immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. In young animals, only single nNOS-immunoreactive (IR) neurons were detected in ARC, and nNOS-IR neurons were found in the VMH (19 +/- 3.2% in females and 14.5 +/- 2.6% in males) and DMH (17 +/- 4.0% in females and 21 +/- 2.8% in males). In aged animals, the number of nNOS-IR neurons increased in all studied nuclei, including ARC (36 +/- 3.1% in females and 33.5 +/- 3.7% in males), VMH (83 +/- 4.3% in females and 58 +/- 2.1% in males) and DMH (57 +/- 1.9% in females and 54 +/- 1.8% in males). The expression of nNOS also significantly increased in the ARC, VMH and DMH during ageing by western blot analysis. In conclusion, ageing is accompanied by increasing of nNOS expression in the hypothalamus and this process is related to regions involved in the control of feeding behavior.