ATPase Na,K-dependent activity and water-matrix interactions in cerebella of aged mice

A new analytical approach to the chemical behaviour of mouse cerebella duri ng ageing is described. The microcalorimetric determination of Na+/K+-ATPas e activity and the thermogravimetric investigation of the water-matrix inte ractions were performed on cerebella of mice of 2, 10 and 22 months (young, adult and aged mice). The results are compared with a preceding work regar ding the same determinations performed on cerebella of ouabain-treated mice (spongy-state induced in cerebella of mice as those affected by the Jacob- Creutzfeld disease) and also with similar studies on ageing of brain in mic e reported in the literature. The results here obtained on cerebella of age d mice show a substantial difference with respect to those reported for ana logous samples of mice affected by a spongy-state. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.