ROBUST INDUCTION OF AP-1 TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR DNA-BINDING ACTIVITY INTHE HIPPOCAMPUS OF AGED RATS

Activation of expression of genes encoding components of AP-1 transcri ption factor(c-fos,c-jun and their cognates) as well as AP-1 itself ha s been repeatedly shown to coincide with long-term cellular responses. For the proliferating cells where functional involvement of AP-1 in p hysiological activity has been proved, cellular senescence as well as aging at level of the organism results in an alteration of the AP- 1. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether there is an aging- related defect in the formation of AP-1 transcription factor in the br ain. AP-1 has been shown previously to be inducible by several stimuli in the cells of the central nervous system, including proconvulsant t reatment of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). The present studies found that P TZ robustly induced AP-I DNA binding activity, evaluated by the electr ophoretic mobility shift assay, in hippocampi of aged (2-year-old) rat s, indicating no aging-related AP- 1 defect in the rat brain.