OPPOSITE CHANGES IN THE CONTENT OF OXYTOCIN-LIKE AND VASOPRESSIN-LIKEIMMUNOREACTIVE PEPTIDES IN THE RAT THYMUS DURING AGING

The content of oxytocin- and vasopressin-like immunoreactive (IR) pept ides was measured in the thymic extract of 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 month-o ld rats by radioimmunoassay before or after fractionation by high-pres sure liquid chromatography. In both cases the content of the oxytocin- like IR peptide, which behaved like authentic oxytocin in the chromato graphy column, increased during aging. Compared to 2 month-old rats a significant 30% increase was observed in 5 month-old rats, whereas the maximal increase (200%) was found in 20 month-old rats. In contrast, the content of the vasopressin-like IR peptide, which behaved like aut hentic arg(8)-vasopressin in the chromatography column, decreased duri ng aging. The decrease (30%) was evident in 5 month-old rats, and was maximal (80%) in 15 month-old rats. The present results suggest that t he mechanisms regulating the content of oxytocin- and vasopressin-like IR peptides in the rat thymus undergo differential changes during agi ng. These processes might be linked to thymic involution.