Molecular imaging identifies age-related attenuation of acetylcholine in retrosplenial cortex in response to acetylcholinesterase inhibition.

ABSTRACT: The neurotransmitter of the cholinergic system, acetylcholine plays a major role in the brain's cognitive function and is involved in neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we present age-related alterations of acetylcholine levels after administration of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor drug tacrine in normal mice. Using a quantitative, robust and molecular-specific mass spectrometry imaging method we found that tacrine administration significantly raised acetylcholine levels in most areas of sectioned mice brains, inter alia the striatum, hippocampus and cortical areas. However, acetylcholine levels in retrosplenial cortex were significantly lower in 14-month-old than in 12-week-old animals following its administration, indicating that normal aging affects the cholinergic system's responsi

SUBMITTER: Vallianatou T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6887892 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature