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R Quirion

Publications and source records attributed to R Quirion.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Stimulation of dopamine release from cultured rat mesencephalic cells by naturally occurring excitatory amino acids: involvement of both N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptor subtypes.

In rat mesencephalic cell cultures, L-glutamate at concentrations ranging from 100 microM to 1 mM stimulated release of [3H]dopamine that was attenuated by the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) receptor antagonist 6,7-dinitroquinoxalinedione, but not by the selective NMDA receptor antagonists (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine hydrogen maleate (MK-801; 10 microM) and 3-(2-carboxypiperazine-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonate (300 microM). Even at 1 mM glutamate, this release was Ca2+ dependent. These observations suggest that the release was mediated by a non-NMDA receptor. Only release stimulated by a lower concentration (10 microM) of glutamate was inhibited by MK-801 (10 microM), indicating that glutamate at this concentration activates the NMDA receptor. By contrast, L-aspartate at concentrations of 10 microM to 1 mM evoked [3H]dopamine release that was completely inhibited by MK-801 (10 microM) and was also Ca2+ dependent (tested at 1 and 10 mM aspartate). Thus, effects of aspartate involved activation of the NMDA receptor. Sulfur-containing amino acids (L-homocysteate, L-homocysteine sulfinate, L-cysteate, L-cysteine sulfinate) also evoked [3H]dopamine release. Release evoked by submillimolar concentrations of these amino acids was attenuated by MK-801 (10 microM), indicating involvement of the NMDA receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1990

Neuropeptide Y: localization in the central nervous system and neuroendocrine functions.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36-amino acid peptide first isolated and characterized from porcine brain extracts. A number of immunocytochemical investigations have been conducted to determine the localization of NPY-containing neurons in various animal species including both vertebrates and invertebrates. These studies have established the widespread distribution of NPY in the brain and in sympathetic neurons. In the rat brain, a high density of immunoreactive cell bodies and fibers is observed in the cortex, caudate putamen and hippocampus. In the diencephalon, NPY-containing perikarya are mainly located in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus; numerous fibers innervate the paraventricular and suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus, as well as the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus and the periaqueductal gray. At the electron microscope level, using the pre- and post-embedding immunoperoxidase techniques, NPY-like immunoreactivity has been observed in neuronal cell body dendrites and axonal processes. In nerve terminals of the hypothalamus, the product of the immunoreaction is associated with large dense core vesicles. In lower vertebrates, including amphibians and fish, neurons originating from the diencephalic (or telencephalic) region innervate the intermediate lobe of the pituitary where a dense network of immunoreactive fibers has been detected. At the ultrastructural level, positive endings have been observed in direct contact with pituitary melanotrophs of frog and dogfish. These anatomical data suggest that NPY can act both as a neurotransmitter (or neuromodulator) and as a hypophysiotropic neurohormone. In the rat a few NPY-containing fibers are found in the internal zone of the median eminence and high concentrations of NPY-like immunoreactivity are detected in the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal blood, suggesting that NPY may affect anterior pituitary hormone secretion. Intrajugular injection of NPY causes a marked inhibition of LH release but does not significantly affect other pituitary hormones. Passive immunoneutralization of endogenous NPY by specific NPY antibodies induces stimulation of LH release in female rats, suggesting that NPY could affect LH secretion at the pituitary level. However, NPY has no effect on LH release from cultured pituitary cells or hemipituitaries. In addition, autoradiographic studies show that sites for 125I-labeled Bolton-Hunter NPY or 125I-labeled PYY (2 specific ligands of NPY receptors) are not present in the adenohypophysis, while moderate concentrations of these binding sites are found in the neural lobe of the pituitary. It thus appears that the inhibitory effect of NPY on LH secretion must be mediated at the hypothalamic level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Phencyclidine and related compounds evoked [3H]dopamine release from rat mesencephalic cell cultures by a mechanism independent of the phencyclidine receptor, sigma binding site, or dopamine uptake site.

At concentrations greater than or equal to 100 microM, phencyclidine (PCP), N-(1-(2-thienyl)-cyclohexyl)piperidine (TCP), and MK-801 induced [3H]dopamine release from dissociated cell cultures of rat mesencephalon. This release was Ca2+ independent and tetrodotoxin insensitive. Tetrodotoxin (2 microM) itself had no effect on spontaneous release of [3H]dopamine. [3H]Dopamine release was induced by 1,3-di(2-tolyl)guanidine, a sigma ligand, and by 4-aminopyridine (1-3 mM), a K+ channel blocker. No stereoselectivity was observed for [3H]dopamine release evoked by the dioxadrol enantiomers, dexoxadrol, and levoxadrol, or by enantiomers of N-allylnormetazocine (SKF 10,047). The selective dopamine uptake inhibitor 1-(2-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl)-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine dihydrochloride (GBR 12909) did not affect spontaneous or TCP-evoked [3H]dopamine release. Together, these data suggest that the dopamine-releasing effects of PCP-like compounds on the mesencephalic cells were not mediated by actions at the PCP receptor or sigma binding site, Ca2+, or Na+ channels, or at the high affinity dopamine uptake site. It remains conceivable that blocking actions of PCP-like compounds at voltage-regulated K+ channels may at least partly explain the response. These results are discussed in comparison with findings in intact brain.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗
PubMed1990

Androgen binding sites in human temporal cortex.

We have characterized putative androgen receptor binding sites in five separate biopsy samples of human temporal cortex from epilepsy patients using an in vitro exchange assay with soluble fractions and [3H]5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone as radioligand. The results revealed highly specific, saturable binding with an apparent affinity constant (Kd) of approximately 2 nM with a moderate capacity (Bmax) of approximately 50 fmol/mg protein. In competition studies, we found that only testosterone and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone competed effectively (i.e. at low nanomolar concentrations) for [3H]5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone binding sites. These data indicate the presence of androgen receptors in human cortex that are pharmacologically very similar to that previously described in rodent and infrahuman primate CNS, and suggest the existence of a possible mechanism whereby circulating androgens might influence neuronal events in human cortex.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Effects of long-term haloperidol treatment on the responsiveness of accumbens neurons to cholecystokinin and dopamine: electrophysiological and radioligand binding studies in the rat.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) and dopamine (DA) coexist in a subpopulation of neurons of the ventral tegmental area projecting to the nucleus accumbens. The present experiments were undertaken to determine the effect of acute and long-term administration of haloperidol on the responsiveness of accumbens neurons to microiontophoretic applications of the sulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8S), kainate (KA), and DA and on the density of CCK, D1, and D2 receptors determined by radioautography. Acute administration of haloperidol (1 mg/kg, i.v.) did not modify the neuronal responsiveness to DA and KA but increased that to CCK-8S. Long-term treatment with haloperidol decanoate (4 mg/kg/week, i.m., for 3-5 weeks) induced a marked increase in the responsiveness to CCK-8S, without noticeable change of that to DA and KA. After a 5 week treatment, significant increases in the amounts of CCK and D2 binding were found in the nucleus accumbens, whereas D1 binding parameters remained unchanged. Since long-term haloperidol treatment results in a depolarization inactivation of A10 dopaminergic neurons, these results suggest that, despite the reduced firing activity of mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons induced by the long-term haloperidol treatment, dopamine is still released in an amount sufficient to maintain a normal neuronal responsiveness of postsynaptic accumbens neurons to DA, whereas the release of CCK is possibly decreased to a greater extent, resulting in an enhanced responsiveness of the neurons to this peptide.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

hCGRP8-37, a calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonist revealing calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor heterogeneity in brain and periphery.

The C-terminal fragment of human calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), hCGRP8-37, fails to induce any biological activity in a variety of isolated tissues and behavioral assays even though it possesses nanomolar affinity for [125I]hCGRP alpha binding sites in the central nervous system and peripheral membrane preparations. However, hCGRP8-37 displays relatively potent, competitive antagonist properties toward the action of native hCGRP alpha in guinea pig atrial and ileal preparations and on the central nervous system-mediated inhibition of CGRP on food intake. On the contrary, in the rat vas deferens the antagonistic potency of hCGRP8-37 was much weaker and was ineffective against CGRP-induced hyperthermia after i.c.v. injection. Such evidence suggests the existence of at least two classes of CGRP receptors, the first (CGRP1) being sensitive to the antagonist properties of hCGRP8-37, whereas the second (CGRP2) is not. The use of hCGRP8-37 should greatly facilitate the characterization of the physiological roles of CGRP-like peptides, especially those which are mediated via the activation of CGRP1 receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Comparative structural requirements of brain neuropeptide Y binding sites and vas deferens neuropeptide Y receptors.

A series of fragments and analogues of neuropeptide Y (NPY), both human (hNPY) and porcine (pNPY), were synthesized and tested for their affinities at brain NPY receptor binding sites and their potencies in inhibiting the electrically stimulated twitch response of rat vas deferens. Results with N- and C-terminal fragments suggest that amino acid residues in the N-terminal portion of the molecule are mostly important for recognition of brain and vas deferens NPY receptors, in addition to being relevant for the maintenance of adequate receptor affinity. On the other hand, C-terminal amino acid residues appear to be responsible for triggering receptor activation in the rat vas deferens preparation, because full intrinsic activity is maintained with fragments up to NPY18-36. C-terminal fragment NPY25-36 and N-terminal fragment NPY1-15 were devoid of affinity for [3H]NPY brain receptor sites and showed no activity in the rat vas deferens preparation. Similarly, N-terminal fragment hNPY1-24CONH2 showed no affinity toward [3H]NPY brain receptor sites and no inhibition of the twitch response in the rat vas deferens preparation at concentrations up to 1.0 microM. On the contrary, this fragment appears to selectively increase the amplitude of the twitch response to electrical stimulation at low micromolar concentrations, an effect opposite to that of NPY and all other NPY fragments and analogues studied here. The exact mechanism mediating this contractile action of hNPY1-24CONH2 remains to be established. Modifications of the tyrosine residue in position 20 led to the development of two analogues, [D-Tyr20]hNPY and [D-Trp20]hNPY, which show an apparent preference for the vas deferens NPY receptor. On the other hand, substitutions of the tyrosine residue in position 21 by a phenylalanine ([Phe21]hNPY) or a methylated tyrosine residue ([Tyr-O-Me21]hNPY) produced analogues demonstrating an apparent preference for the brain receptor site. This suggests that modifications of tyrosine residues at positions 20 and/or 21 may eventually lead to the development of NPY analogues distinguishing between the most abundant class of sites present in the brain and vas deferens, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Effects of aging on nicotinic and muscarinic autoreceptor function in the rat brain: relationship to presynaptic cholinergic markers and binding sites.

The main objective of the present work was to determine whether the regulation of ACh release by nicotinic and muscarinic autoreceptors is compromised in the aged rat brain. For this, the effects of the nicotinic agonist N-methylcarbamylcholine (MCC) and the muscarinic-M2 antagonist AF-DX 116 on ACh release from brain slices of young (3-month-old), adult (9-month-old), and aged (27-month-old) rats were tested. The ability of MCC to enhance spontaneous ACh release in hippocampal, cerebral cortical, and cerebellar slices was only modestly altered with age. In contrast, the sensitivity of muscarinic autoreceptors in the aged hippocampus and cerebral cortex, but not the striatum, to blockade by the muscarinic-M2 antagonist AF-DX 116 was severely attenuated. To assess whether the age-related changes in cholinergic autoreceptor function may be due to deficits in presynaptic cholinergic markers, we tested whether choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, basal and evoked ACh release, and nicotinic and muscarinic binding sites are altered in the aged rats. ChAT activity in forebrain regions was decreased in the aged compared to the young and mature adult rats. Furthermore, the potassium-evoked, but not the spontaneous, release of ACh was markedly depressed in striatal, hippocampal, and cortical slices of aged rats. The densities of nicotinic and muscarinic-M2 binding sites, assessed using 3H-MCC and 3H-AF-DX 116 as selective ligands, respectively, were markedly reduced in homogenates of the striatum, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and thalamus of aged rats. In contrast, muscarinic-M1 sites, selectively labeled with 3H-pirenzepine, were not affected. Therefore, it appears that age-related decrements in ChAT activity and in muscarinic-M2, but not nicotinic, binding sites in the rat brain are reflected in a decreased function of muscarinic-M2 autoreceptors. However, the positive correlation between loss of ChAT activity, decreased muscarinic-M2 binding sites, and impaired muscarinic autoreceptor function is clearly tissue dependent.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1989

Pharmacological activity of N-methyl-carbamylcholine, a novel acetylcholine receptor agonist with selectivity for nicotinic receptors.

N-Methyl-carbamylcholine (also called N-methyl-carbachol) is an analogue of the mixed muscarinic-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, carbachol. Previous studies have provided evidence that radiolabelled N-methyl-carbachol can bind selectively to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in rat brain. To determine whether N-methyl-carbachol acts as an agonist or an antagonist at nicotine and/or muscarinic receptor sites, the present study examined the pharmacological activity of this compound on some cholinergically innervated tissues. N-Methyl-carbachol, like carbachol, depolarized rat isolated sympathetic ganglia and these effects were inhibited by a nicotinic antagonist, d-tubocurarine, but not by a muscarinic antagonist, atropine. Exposure of rat sympathetic ganglia to N-methyl-carbachol blocked the compound action potential generated in ganglia by stimulation of the pre-ganglionic trunk; this effect of N-methyl-carbachol was likely due to desensitization of the nicotinic response. N-Methyl-carbochol, like carbachol, stimulated the release of [3H]noradrenaline from cultured adrenal medullary cells that had been pre-loaded with [3H]noradrenaline; these effects were largely inhibited by a nicotinic antagonist, mecamylamine, while atropine produced less blockade. N-Methyl-carbachol contracted the frog isolated rectus abdominis muscle and the effect was completely blocked by d-tubocurarine. By contrast, contracture of the rectus abdominis produced by carbachol was partially inhibited by either atropine or d-tubocurarine. N-Methyl-carbachol, like carbachol, contracted the rat isolated ileum and these effects were completely blocked by atropine; however, N-methyl-carbachol was about 42 times less potent than carbachol for this effect. Intravenous injection of N-methyl-carbachol, like nicotine, to the rat produced a transient decrease followed by a more sustained rise in blood pressure while carbachol produced only a sustained decrease in blood pressure. The effects of N-methyl-carbachol and nicotine on blood pressure were blocked by pretreatment of the animal with a nicotinic antagonist, hexamethonium. N-methyl-carbachol, like nicotine, stimulated the release of [3H]dopamine from rat striatal synaptosomes, pre-loaded with [3H]dopamine; release induced by either N-methyl-carbachol or nicotine was inhibited by mecamylamine but not by atropine. In rat cerebral cortical slices pre-loaded with [3H]inositol, carbachol, but not N-methyl-carbachol, stimulated the accumulation of [3H]inositol-1-phosphate, an effect blocked by atropine but not by mecamylamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adrenal Medulla↗
PubMed1989

Localization of interleukin-2 immunoreactivity and interleukin-2 receptors in the rat brain: interaction with the cholinergic system.

The present work characterizes the presence of interleukin-2 (IL-2)-like immunoreactive material and IL-2 binding sites in the adult rat brain. The results show that there are detectable levels of IL-2-like material in extracts of rat hippocampus, striatum, and frontal cortex. However, specific [125I]IL-2 binding sites were observed only in the hippocampus, using both homogenate-binding and autoradiographic techniques. In this region of the rat brain, specific [125I]IL-2 binding was inhibited by 100 nM non-radioactive recombinant human IL-2. In kainate-lesioned hippocampi, the density of [125I]IL-2 sites was apparently increased, suggesting their localization to extrinsic innervation and/or glial cells. In slices of hippocampus, which contain both IL-2-like immunoreactive material and specific IL-2 sites, exogenous IL-2 significantly decreased the potassium (25 mM)-evoked, but not the basal, release of acetylcholine. This IL-2-induced effect was concentration-dependent, and was apparent at a relatively low concentration (1 nM). This IL-2 effect was also region-specific, such that acetylcholine release from other tissue slices (striatal, frontal cortical) was not affected. In slices from kainate-lesioned hippocampi, the IL-2-induced reduction of acetylcholine release was only modestly enhanced, suggesting that the extra IL-2 sites that appear post-lesion may not be localized to cholinergic terminals.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1989

Radioautographic analysis of somatostatin receptor sub-type in rat hypothalamus.

Hypothalamic somatostatin (SRIF) receptors were examined in a qualitative and quantitative radioautographic study using [125I-Tyr0,D-Trp8]SRIF14 and the stable octapeptide analog [125I-Tyr3]SMS 201-995 as radioligands. The latter has been shown to bind selectively to the high-affinity SS1 receptor subtype. Both radioligands labeled specifically and with high resolution various hypothalamic nuclei. In addition, the labeling patterns obtained with the two probes were identical; in both cases specific binding density was highest in the preoptic area and lowest in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. Inhibition of the specific binding of each radioligand by either SRIF14 or the SS1-selective (SMS 201-995) unlabeled competitor was assessed on serial sections throughout the hypothalamus. The proportions of both non-selective and SS1-selective binding, remaining in the presence of either SRIF14 or SMS 201-995 (micromolar concentrations) were identical. These results indicate the existence of a homogeneous class of SRIF binding sites of the SS1 type in the hypothalamus.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Binding sites for [3H]AF-DX 116 and effect of AF-DX 116 on endogenous acetylcholine release from rat brain slices.

The present study shows that the putative M2 ligand, [3H]AF-DX 116, binds to two classes of muscarinic sites in homogenates of rat hippocampus, striatum and cerebral cortex: one with a high affinity (Kd less than 5 nM)/low capacity (Bmax = 30-63 fmol/mg protein), and a second of lower affinity (Kd greater than 65 nM) and higher capacity (Bmax greater than 190 fmol/mg protein). In experiments which tested the effects of the muscarinic antagonists on acetylcholine (ACh) release from brain slices, the non-selective antagonist (-)-quinuclidinyl benzylate and atropine significantly enhanced the potassium (25 mM)-evoked release of ACh. This effect was mimicked by the M2 ligand AF-DX 116, but neither the M1-selective antagonist pirenzepine, nor the putative M3-muscarinic antagonist, 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine (4-DAMP), altered ACh release. Also, the muscarinic agonist, oxotremorine, significantly depressed evoked ACh release from brain slices, an effect that was completely antagonized by atropine or by AF-DX 116, but not by pirenzepine or 4-DAMP. Thus, it appears that presynaptic muscarinic autoreceptors in the rat hippocampus, striatum and cerebral cortex belong to the M2 subtype of muscarinic receptors.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1989

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (somatomedin-C) receptors in the rat brain: distribution and interaction with the hippocampal cholinergic system.

The present work characterizes the autoradiographic distribution of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)/somatomedin-C binding sites in neonatal and adult rat brain, and attempts to correlate the distribution of IGF-1 sites, in certain regions of the rat brain, with functional IGF-1 receptors. In neonatal brain, [125I]IGF-1 binding sites are especially concentrated in superficial cortical layers, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus. In the adult rat brain, the distribution of IGF-1 sites is broader, with a high density of sites observed in superficial and deep cortical layers, olfactory bulb, endopiriform nucleus, basomedial nucleus of the amygdala, thalamic nuclei and hippocampus. Specific binding of [125I]IGF-1 to its sites in these brain regions was almost completely inhibited by 100 nM nonradioactive IGF-1. In contrast, similar concentrations of either IGF-2 or insulin did not significantly alter [125I]IGF-1 binding to its sites. Therefore, under our incubation conditions, [125I]IGF-1 appears to label specifically the type-I IGF receptor. In the hippocampus, which is highly enriched with specific [125I]IGF-1 binding sites in both neonatal and adult rat brain, IGF-1 significantly altered the potassium-evoked (25 mM) release of acetylcholine (ACh) from slices of adult, but not immature (6- and 18-day-old), rat brain. This IGF-1-induced decrease in ACh release from adult rat brain slices was concentration-dependent and appeared to be specific to hippocampus; ACh release from frontal cortical slices was not affected by this GF. The spontaneous release of ACh in the presence of IGF-1 in either tissue was not significantly different from control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1989

Distribution of mu, delta, and kappa opiate receptor types in the forebrain and midbrain of pigeons.

Ligands that are highly specific for the mu, delta, and kappa opiate receptor binding sites in mammalian brains have been identified and used to map the distribution of these receptor types in the brains of various mammalian species. In the present study, the selectivity and binding characteristics in the pigeon brain of three such ligands were examined by in vitro receptor binding techniques and found to be similar to those reported in previous studies on mammalian species. These ligands were then used in conjunction with autoradiographic receptor binding techniques to study the distribution of mu, delta, and kappa opiate receptor binding sites in the forebrain and midbrain of pigeons. The autoradiographic results indicated that the three opiate receptor types showed similar but not identical distributions. For example, mu, delta, and kappa receptors were all abundant within several parts of the cortical-equivalent region of the telencephalon, particularly the hyperstriatum ventrale and the medial neostriatum. In contrast, in other parts of the cortical-equivalent region of the avian telencephalon, such as the dorsal archistriatum and caudal neostriatum, only kappa receptors appeared to be abundant. Within the basal ganglia, all three types of opiate receptors were abundant in the striatum and low in the pallidum. Within the diencephalon, kappa and delta binding was high in the dorsal and dorsomedial thalamic nuclei, but the levels of all three receptor types were generally low in the specific sensory relay nuclei of the thalamus. Kappa binding and delta binding were high, but mu was low in the hypothalamus. Within the midbrain, all three receptor types were abundant in both the superficial and deep tectal layers, in periventricular areas, and in the tegmental dopaminergic cell groups. In many cases, the distribution of opiate receptors in the pigeon forebrain generally showed considerable overlap with the distribution of opioid peptide-containing fiber systems (for example, in the striatal portion of the basal ganglia), but there were some clear examples of receptor-ligand mismatch. For example, although all three receptor types are very abundant in the hyperstriatum ventrale, opioid peptide-containing fibers are sparse in this region. Conversely, within the pallidal portion of the basal ganglia, opioid peptide-containing fibers are abundant, but the levels of opiate receptors appear to be considerably lower than would be expected. Thus, receptor-ligand mismatches are not restricted to the mammalian brain, since they are a prominent feature of the organization of the brain opiate systems in pigeons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Circadian rhythms of melatonin and cortisol in aging.

The relationship of age to the circadian rhythms of melatonin and cortisol was investigated in 44 men and 27 women (age range 19-89 years). Subjects were physically and psychiatrically normal. Four hourly serial blood samples were drawn from 8:00 AM until 8:00 AM the next day, with additional samples at 10:00 PM and 2:00 AM. The indoor illumination was restricted to 300 lux during day and 50 lux during the night. Plasma melatonin and cortisol were estimated by radioimmunoassay. Results show that the means of melatonin and cortisol values decreased significantly with age when the subjects were divided into three age groups, i.e., 19-25 years, 42-65 years, and 66-89 years. They also showed a significant negative correlation with age. The acrophases of the two hormonal rhythms, however, showed different relationships to age. The acrophase of melatonin rhythm showed a positive correlation with age (r = 0.38, p less than 0.001), and cortisol showed a negative correlation with age (r = -0.56, p greater than 0.001). It is suggested that this may indicate a weakened responsiveness of the circadian system in the elderly to the day-night cycle and an altered relationship between the pacemakers driving melatonin and cortisol circadian rhythms. This may thus represent a biomarker for the intrinsic process of the aging of the brain.

Adult↗