Biomaterial Database

Localization of age-related changes in NADPH-diaphorase activity in pancreatic neurons. 1994

S S Tay, and G Burnstock

Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, U.K.

The distribution of NADPH-diaphorase activity in the pancreatic neurons of neonatal, adult and aging rats was investigated using histochemistry. In the neonates, only 40% of the neuronal population showed NADPH-diaphorase labelling, and there was variation in the intensity of labelling ranging from light to heavy staining. In the young and mature adults, 95% of the neurons were labelled for NADPH-diaphorase activity, with most of the neurons being heavily labelled for the enzyme in the older animals. Immediately after birth, the pancreatic neurons found were small clusters of smaller sized cells compared with those observed in the mature adults. Their number reached the adult level by the third month after birth; this was maintained throughout the mature adult phase and subsequently decreased in the aging rats.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009252	NADPH Dehydrogenase	A flavoprotein that reversibly oxidizes NADPH to NADP and a reduced acceptor. EC 1.6.99.1.	NADP Dehydrogenase,NADP Diaphorase,NADPH Diaphorase,Old Yellow Enzyme,TPN Diaphorase,Dehydrogenase, NADP,Dehydrogenase, NADPH,Diaphorase, NADP,Diaphorase, NADPH,Diaphorase, TPN,Enzyme, Old Yellow
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D009569	Nitric Oxide	A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells, synthesized from ARGININE by NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE. Nitric oxide is one of the ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXING FACTORS released by the vascular endothelium and mediates VASODILATION. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic GUANYLATE CYCLASE and thus elevates intracellular levels of CYCLIC GMP.	Endogenous Nitrate Vasodilator,Mononitrogen Monoxide,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium-Derived,Nitrogen Monoxide,Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide,Monoxide, Mononitrogen,Monoxide, Nitrogen,Nitrate Vasodilator, Endogenous,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium Derived,Oxide, Nitric,Vasodilator, Endogenous Nitrate
D010179	Pancreas	A nodular organ in the ABDOMEN that contains a mixture of ENDOCRINE GLANDS and EXOCRINE GLANDS. The small endocrine portion consists of the ISLETS OF LANGERHANS secreting a number of hormones into the blood stream. The large exocrine portion (EXOCRINE PANCREAS) is a compound acinar gland that secretes several digestive enzymes into the pancreatic ductal system that empties into the DUODENUM.
D006651	Histocytochemistry	Study of intracellular distribution of chemicals, reaction sites, enzymes, etc., by means of staining reactions, radioactive isotope uptake, selective metal distribution in electron microscopy, or other methods.	Cytochemistry
D000375	Aging	The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time.	Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging
D000594	Amino Acid Oxidoreductases	A class of enzymes that catalyze oxidation-reduction reactions of amino acids.	Acid Oxidoreductases, Amino,Oxidoreductases, Amino Acid
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000831	Animals, Newborn	Refers to animals in the period of time just after birth.	Animals, Neonatal,Animal, Neonatal,Animal, Newborn,Neonatal Animal,Neonatal Animals,Newborn Animal,Newborn Animals
D051381	Rats	The common name for the genus Rattus.	Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus