Expression of pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus in young and senile rats
- VernacularTitle:青年及老年大鼠下丘脑弓状核阿黑皮素原mRNA的表达
- Author:
Zhenghua XIANG
;
Lin MENG
;
Ling JIANG
;
Guozhen QIAN
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Academic Journal of Second Military Medical University
2001;22(5):481-483
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
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.