Pinealectomy-associated decrease in ribosomal gene activity in rats

A decrease in ribosomal gene activity is an essential feature of the aging process as it was observed in Alzheimer's disease, in elderly Down's patien ts and in elderly healthy people. It is well known that aging is also assoc iated with a reduction in melatonin synthesis. We studied 24 male Wistar ra ts cytogenetically, by using Ag-stained NOR (6 three-month-old rats underwe nt. pinealectomy and were studied after 20 days; 6 control rats of the same age 6 three-month-old rats underwent pinealectomy and were studied after 8 months; 6 control rats of the same age). Our results indicate that the abs ence of the pineal gland leads to a decrease in NOR activity. Further studi es are necessary to determine if pinealectomy in rats could provide an anim al model for aging.