慢性间歇性低压低氧对老年大鼠自发运动行为及黑质多巴胺能神经元的影响

Effects of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia on motor behavior and substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in aged rats

目的:用慢性间歇性低压低氧(CIHH)模型,探讨CIHH对老年大鼠自发运动行为以及黑质多巴胺能神经元的影响。方法:用CIHH模型处理老年大鼠30 d,通过旷场实验检测大鼠自发运动行为的改变,通过实时定量PCR和免疫印迹检测黑质多巴胺能神经元酪氨酸羟化酶(TH)和多巴胺转运体(DAT)表达的变化。结果:老年组大鼠旷场实验中闻嗅行为、探索行为、运动行为和理毛行为与成年组相比均显著下降,CIHH处理后理毛行为没有改变,闻嗅行为、探索行为和运动行为显著改善,但没有达到成年组水平;老年组大鼠黑质多巴胺能神经元TH和DAT的表达与成年组相比均显著下降,老年CIHH组TH和DAT的表达升高,但没有达到成年组水平。结论:CIHH可改善老年大鼠闻嗅行为、探索行为和运动行为,并提高黑质多巴胺能神经元TH和DAT的表达。

Objective： To study the effects of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia （CIHH） on motor behavior and substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in aged rats. Methods： The motor behavior of the aged rats treated by CIHH for 30 days was examined by the open field test. Expression of tyrosine hydroxylase （TH） and dopamine transporter （DAT） of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in aged rats were examined by Western blotting and quantitative PCR. Results ： Compared to adult rats, sniffing behavior, exploratory behavior, motor behavior and grooming behavior declined significantly in aged rats. CIHH significantly ameliorated the parameters of sniffing behavior, exploratory behavior and motor behavior, but not restore it to the level of adult rats. The parameters of grooming behavior were not affect by CIHH. The expression of TH and DAT in substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons was down-regulated in aged rats. CIHH significantly enhanced TH and DAT expression, but not restore them to the level of adult rats. Conclusion： CIHH ameliorates the declined locomotor activity and improve the expression of TH and DAT in dopaminergic neurons in aged rats.