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Axoplasmic transport of calcitonin gene-related peptide in rat peripheral nerve as function of age

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Abstract

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been implicated in the trophic regulation of acetylcholine receptors and G4 acetylcholinesterase at the rat neuromuscular junction. Since these latter molecules exhibit significant changes with advancing age, we examined the possibility that certain aspects of CGRP transport are also influenced by aging. Double nerve ligations and CGRP radioimmunoassay of 3-mm nerve segments permitted the assessment of the peptide's apparent transport rates in sciatic nerves from 3-, 12-, and 24-month-old Fischer 344 rats. Results confirm that CGRP is conveyed by anterograde axoplasmic transport; more importantly, they suggest that CGRP is also transported retrogradely, but in smaller amounts and at slower rates. In addition, our findings indicate that the apparent rates of CGRP transport in both directions significantly decline with advancing age. These data are consistent with the notion that changes in CGRP delivery may contribute to age-related changes in junctional acetylcholine receptors and acetylcholinesterase.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Research & Development Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10,000 Bay Pines Blvd., 33504, Bay Pines, Florida

    Hugo L. Fernandez

  2. Departments of Neurology and Physiology & Biophysics, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 33612-4799, Tampa, Florida

    Hugo L. Fernandez

  3. Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Research & Development Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 55417, Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Cheryl A. Hodges-Savola

Authors
  1. Hugo L. Fernandez
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  2. Cheryl A. Hodges-Savola
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Special issue dedicated to Dr. Sidney Ochs.

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Fernandez, H.L., Hodges-Savola, C.A. Axoplasmic transport of calcitonin gene-related peptide in rat peripheral nerve as function of age. Neurochem Res 19, 1369–1377 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00972465

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