J. Krenning et al., AGE-RELATED GLYCINE RECEPTOR SUBUNIT CHANGES IN THE COCHLEAR-NUCLEUS OF FISCHER-344 RATS, The Laryngoscope, 108(1), 1998, pp. 26-31
Previous studies have shown that levels of binding for the strychnine-
sensitive glycine receptor in the cochlear nucleus (CN) of Fischer (F3
44) rats decrease with age. Given the major role glycine plays in norm
al CN function, changes in glycine-receptor activity may contribute to
central presbycusis. To further evaluate the impact of age on glycine
receptors, in situ hybridization was used to assess;,in three age gro
ups of F344 rats, changes in levels of gene expression for four of its
subunits. When compared with the 3-month-old rats, expression of mRNA
s for alpha 1 and beta subunits in the anteroventral ?CN decreased sig
nificantly in the 18- and 27-month-old age groups, while mRNA expressi
on for the alpha 2 subunit increased. If protein expressions are simil
ar, these subunit changes may alter the function of glycine receptors,
thereby affecting binding to its ligands.