The perimenopausal aging transition in the female rat brain: decline in bioenergetic systems and synaptic plasticity.

ABSTRACT: The perimenopause is an aging transition unique to the female that leads to reproductive senescence which can be characterized by multiple neurological symptoms. To better understand potential underlying mechanisms of neurological symptoms of perimenopause, the present study determined genomic, biochemical, brain metabolic, and electrophysiological transformations that occur during this transition using a rat model recapitulating fundamental characteristics of the human perimenopause. Gene expression analyses indicated two distinct aging programs: chronological and endocrine. A critical period emerged during the endocrine transition from regular to irregular cycling characterized by decline in bioenergetic gene expression, confirmed by deficits in fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomog

SUBMITTER: Yin F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4416218 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature