青年及老年大鼠下丘脑弓状核阿黑皮素原mRNA的表达

Expression of pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus in young and senile rats

目的 :观察青年和老年期大鼠下丘脑弓状核阿黑皮素原 m RNA(POMC m RNA)的表达水平。 方法 :应用原位杂交技术显示 POMC m RNA和用计算机图像分析观察杂交信号的强弱及阳性细胞的面积。 结果 :与青年组相比 ,老年组下丘脑弓状核及其附近区域 POMC m RNA阳性神经元的平均灰度值下降 ;POMC m RNA阳性神经元的数目无明显变化。结论 :老年期 POMC m RNA阳性神经元相应的 m RNA表达水平下降可能是下丘脑 POMC基因衍生肽表达水平下降的原因之一。

Objective: To observe the level of pro opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA expression in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus in young and senile rats. Methods: POMC mRNA was determined with in situ hybridization, the hybridization signals and areas of POMC mRNA positive cells were measured with computer image analysis system. Results: Compared with young rats, average gray values of POMC mRNA positive neurons in the hypothalalmic arcuate nucleus and near region in the senile rats decreased, but the numbers of POMC mRNA positive neurons did not change significantly. Conclusion: The decrease of POMC mRNA expression level in individual neurons in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of senile rats is one of the causes that decrease the expression of peptides derived from POMC gene.