Journal
NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING
Volume 27, Issue 6, Pages 895-903Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2005.04.009
Keywords
sensory neuron; vanilloid receptor; TRPV 1; sodium channel; behavior; thermal sensitivity
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Funding
- NIA NIH HHS [AG 18134, R01 AG020576-05, R01 AG020576, AG 20576] Funding Source: Medline
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Sensory neurons in aging mammals undergo changes in anatomy, physiology and gene expression that correlate with reduced sensory perception. In this study we compared young and aged mice to identify proteins that might contribute to this loss of sensation. We first show using behavioral testing that thermal sensitivity in aged male and female mice is reduced. Expression of sodium channel (Nav1.8 and Nav1.9) and transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels in DRG and peripheral nerves of young and old male mice was then examined. Immunoblotting and RT-PCR assays showed reduced Nav1.8 levels in aged mice. No change was measured in TRPV I mRNA levels in DRG though TRPV1 protein appeared reduced in the DRG and peripheral nerves. The GFR alpha 3 receptor, which binds the growth factor artemin and is expressed by TRPV1-positive neurons, was also decreased in the DRG of aged animals. These findings indicate that loss of thermal sensitivity in aging animals may result from a decreased level of TRPV I and Nav 1.8 and decreased trophic support that inhibits efficient transport of channel proteins to peripheral afferents. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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