Reduced DNA Synthesis in Primary Cultures of Hepatocytes From Old Mice is Restored by Thymus Grafts

We previously observed in vivo that a neonatal thymus grafted into old mice can correct age-related changes such as occurrence of hepatocyte tetraploid nuclei and impaired isoproterenol-induced DNA synthesis in submandibular glands. The aim of the present paper was to study the influence of age and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences Biological sciences and medical sciences, 1998-03, Vol.53A (2), p.B111-B116
Main Authors: Basso, Andrea, Piantanelli, Lucio, Rossolini, Giuliana, Roth, George S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adrenergic beta-Agonists - pharmacology
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - pharmacology
Aging
Aging - metabolism
Animals
Animals, Newborn - blood
Blood Physiological Phenomena
Cattle - blood
Cells, Cultured
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
DNA - biosynthesis
Isoproterenol - pharmacology
Liver - cytology
Liver - metabolism
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Mice, Nude
Propranolol - pharmacology
Proteins - metabolism
Rodents
Thymus Gland - transplantation
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Summary:We previously observed in vivo that a neonatal thymus grafted into old mice can correct age-related changes such as occurrence of hepatocyte tetraploid nuclei and impaired isoproterenol-induced DNA synthesis in submandibular glands. The aim of the present paper was to study the influence of age and thymus on basal and β-adrenergic-stimulated DNA synthesis using primary cultures of mouse hepatocytes. In the absence of any adrenergic agents, cells from young mice show peak DNA synthesis between 36 and 48 h; old mice show a similar time course, but the peak is significantly reduced statistically. The main result is represented by the behavior of hepatocytes from old thymus-grafted mice, which recover the levels of [3H]-thymidine incorporation toward young-like values. Grafted animals also show a correction of total DNA content that is increased in old mice. The addition of isoproterenol does not modify the DNA synthetic pattern, whereas the antagonist propranolol causes a slight but statistically significant decrease.
ISSN:1079-5006
1758-535X
DOI:10.1093/gerona/53A.2.B111