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Previous studies indicate that insulin-like growth factor-1 is an important neurotrophic agent and that decreases in brain concentrations of IGF-1 and the type 1 IGF receptor have an important role in the age-related decline in memory, neuronal function and possibly dendritic architecture. In this study, we assessed the effects of age and IGF-1 replacement on local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU). Three groups of male Brown-Norway rats (7, 18 and 28 months of age) were implanted with Alzet minipumps and either saline or IGF-1 (50ng/0.5 microliter/hour) was infused into the lateral ventricle for 28 days. On day 28, LCGU was measured by infusion of 2-[(14)C]deoxyglucose during the dark phase of the light/dark cycle. Results indicate that glucose utilization significantly decreased with age throughout the brain including the anterior cingulate, sensorimotor and retrosplenial cortex, CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus of hippocampus and several regions of the hypothalamus. Administration of IGF-1 to aged animals increased rates of LCGU in the anterior cingulate of the cortex (14.2%), CA1 region of the hippocampus (11.0%) and the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (12.0%). Our results indicate that although glucose utilization decreases with age throughout the brain, the effects of IGF-1 infusion are manifest only in specific brain regions. Since IGF-1 has been shown to reverse the age-related decrease in memory, these results suggest that despite the wide distribution of the type 1 IGF receptor the actions of IGF-1 on glucose utilization are highly localized. Additionally, the close association between glucose utilization and excitatory amino acid activity suggests that IGF-1 may act on specific neural pathways to increase glutamate activity in brain regions associated with learning and memory.

Research studies clearly indicate that age-related changes in cellular and tissue function are linked to decreases in the anabolic hormones, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1. Although there has been extensive research on the effects of these hormones on bone and muscle mass, their effect on cerebrovascular and brain ageing has received little attention. We have also observed that in response to moderate calorie restriction (a treatment that increases mean and maximal lifespan by 30-40%), age-related decreases in growth hormone secretion are ameliorated (despite a decline in plasma levels of IGF-1) suggesting that some of the effects of calorie restriction are mediated by modifying the regulation of the growth hormone/IGF-1 axis. Recently, we have observed that microvascular density on the surface of the brain decreases with age and that these vascular changes are ameliorated by moderate calorie restriction. Analysis of cerebral blood flow paralleled the changes in vasculature in both groups. Administration of growth hormone for 28 d was also found to increase microvascular density in aged animals and further analysis indicated that the cerebral vasculature is an important paracrine source of IGF-1 for the brain. In subsequent studies, administration of GHRH (to increase endogenous release of growth hormone) or direct administration of IGF-I was shown to reverse the age-related decline in spatial working and reference memory. Similarly, antagonism of IGF-1 action in the brains of young animals impaired both learning and reference memory. Investigation of the mechanisms of action of IGF-1 suggested that this hormone regulates age-related alterations in NMDA receptor subtypes (e.g. NMDAR2A and R2B). The beneficial role of growth hormone and IGF-1 in ameliorating vascular and brain ageing are counterbalanced by their well-recognised roles in age-related pathogenesis. Although research in this area is still evolving, our results suggest that decreases in growth hormone and IGF-1 with age have both beneficial and deleterious effects. Furthermore, part of the actions of moderate calorie restriction on tissue function and lifespan may be mediated through alterations in the growth hormone/IGF-1 axis.

Intrinsic rhythmic changes in the diameter of pial cerebral arterioles (30-70 microns) in anesthetized normotensive and hypertensive rats were assessed in vivo to determine if any significant differences exist between the two strains. All diameter measurements were analyzed using a traditional graphic analysis technique and a new frequency spectrum analysis technique known as the Prony Spectral Line Estimator. Graphic analysis of the data revealed that spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) possess a significantly greater fundamental frequency (5.57 +/- 0.28 cycles/min) of vasomotion compared to the control Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rats (WKY) (1.95 +/- 0.37 cycles/min). Furthermore, the SHR cerebral arterioles exhibited a significantly greater amplitude of vasomotion (10.07 +/- 0.70 microns) when compared to the WKY cerebral arterioles of the same diameter (8.10 +/- 0.70 microns). Diameter measurements processed with the Prony technique revealed that the fundamental frequency of vasomotion in SHR cerebral arterioles (6.14 +/- 0.39 cycles/min) was also significantly greater than that of the WKY cerebral arterioles (2.99 +/- 0.42 cycles/min). The mean amplitudes of vasomotion in the SHR and WKY strains obtained by the Prony analysis were found not to be statistically significant in contrast to the graphic analysis of the vasomotion amplitude of the arterioles. In addition, the Prony system was able to consistently uncover a very low frequency of vasomotion in both strains of rats that was typically less than 1 cycle/min and was not significantly different between the two strains. The amplitude of this slow frequency was also not significantly different between the two strains. The amplitude of the slow frequency of vasomotion (less than 1 cycle/min) was not different from the amplitude of the higher frequency (2-6 cycles/min) vasomotion by Prony or graphic analysis. These data suggest that a fundamental intrinsic defect exists in the spontaneously hypertensive rat that may contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension in these animals.

The dentate gyrus of the hippocampus is one of few regions in the adult mammalian brain characterized by ongoing neurogenesis. Significantly, recent studies indicate that the rate of neurogenesis in the hippocampus declines with age, perhaps contributing to age-related cognitive changes. Although a variety of factors may influence the addition of new neurons in the adult dentate gyrus, the mechanisms responsible for the age-related reduction remain to be established. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is one promising candidate to regulate neurogenesis in the adult and aging brain since it influences neuronal production during development and since, like the rate of neurogenesis, it decreases with age. In the current study, we used bromodeoxyuridine labeling and multilabel immunofluorescence to assess age-related changes in neuronal production in the dentate gyrus of adult Brown Norway x Fischer 344 rats. In addition, we investigated the relationship between changes in neurogenesis and the age-dependent reduction in IGF-I by evaluating the effect of i.c.v. infusion of IGF-I on neurogenesis in the senescent dentate gyrus. The analyses revealed an age-dependent reduction in the number of newly generated cells in the adult dentate subgranular proliferative zone and, in addition, a 60% reduction in the differentiation of newborn cells into neurons. Restoration of IGF-I levels in senescent rats significantly restored neurogenesis through an approximately three-fold increase in neuronal production. The results of this study suggest that IGF-I may be an important regulator of neurogenesis in the adult and aging hippocampus and that an age-related decline in IGF-I-dependent neurogenesis could contribute to age-related cognitive changes.

In this study, we examined the effects of age and growth hormone replacement on both coronary blood flow and capillary density. Blood flow was measured by using [(14)C]-iodoantipyrine in three groups of anesthetized Brown Norway x Fischer 344 rats: young vehicle-treated animals (6 months; n = 13), old vehicle treated animals (30 months; n = 9), and old animals treated with bovine growth hormone (200 microg/kg) twice a day for 30 days (30 months; n = 7). Capillary density was measured by color segmentation analysis of sections stained for platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1. In all regions examined, coronary blood flow decreased with age, and growth hormone administration resulted in an increase in flow compared to vehicle-treated animals. Capillary density decreased with age in the apex and the left ventricular middle segment. In response to growth hormone administration, capillary density increased significantly in the apex but not in other regions of the heart. Our results demonstrate that growth hormone enhances regional myocardial blood flow in the aged heart and suggest that part of this effect could be due to an increase in capillary density.

The present study was designed to assess the impact of moderate caloric restriction (60% of ad libitum fed animals) on cerebral vascular density and local cerebral blood flow. Vascular density was assessed in male Brown–Norway rats from 7–35 months of age using a cranial window technique. Arteriolar density, arteriole-arteriole anastomoses, and venular density decreased with age and these effects were attenuated by moderate caloric restriction. Analysis of local cerebral blood using [14C]iodoantipyrine indicated that basal blood flow decreased with age in CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus of hippocampus; similar trends were evident in cingulate, retrosplenal, and motor cortex. Basal blood flow was increased in all brain regions of moderate caloric restricted old animals (compared to old ad libitum fed animals) and no differences were observed between ad libitum fed young and caloric restricted older animals. In response to a CO2 challenge to maximally dilate vessels, blood flow increased in young and old ad libitum fed animals, but a similar increase was not observed in caloric restricted old animals. We conclude that a decrease in cerebral vasculature is an important contributing factor in the reduction in blood flow with age. Nevertheless, vessels from young and old animals have the capacity to dilate in response to a CO2 challenge and, after CO2, no differences are observed between the two age-groups. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that aged animals fail to adequately regulate local cerebral blood flow in response to physiological stimuli. Moderate caloric restriction increases microvascular density and cerebral blood flow in aged animals but tissues exhibit little or no increase in blood flow in response to CO2 challenge. The cause of this deficient response may indicate that vessels are maximally dilated in aged calorically restricted animals or that they fail to exhibit normal regulatory control.

Ageing in mammals is characterized by a decline in plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 that appears to contribute to both structural and functional changes in a number of tissues. Although insulin-like growth factor-1 has been shown to provide trophic support for neurons and administration of insulin-like growth factor-1 to ageing animals reverses some aspects of brain ageing, age-related changes in insulin-like growth factor-1 or type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptors in brain have not been well documented. In this series of studies, insulin-like growth factor-1 messenger RNA and protein concentrations, and type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor levels were analysed in young (three to four- and 10-12-month-old), middle-aged (19-20-month-old) and old (29-32-month-old) Fisher 344 x Brown Norway rats. Localization of insulin-like growth factor-1 messenger RNA throughout the lifespan revealed that expression was greatest in arteries, arterioles, and arteriolar anastomoses with greater than 80% of these vessels producing insulin-like growth factor-1 messenger RNA. High levels of expression were also noted in the meninges. No age-related changes were detected by either in situ hybridization or quantitative dot blot analysis of cortical tissue. However, analysis of insulin-like growth factor-1 protein levels in cortex analysed after saline perfusion indicated a 36.5% decrease between 11 and 32 months-of-age (P

Previous studies have reported changes in insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) mRNA expression during early postnatal development of the rat brain. Although changes in IGF-I gene expression have been documented in a wide range of central nervous system structures during early development and investigated in the hippocampus during aging, no study has compared changes in IGF-I gene expression in different brain regions across the life span. The present study assessed the distribution of IGF-I gene expression using in situ hybridization in rats aged 2-30 months. Dot blots were used as a quantitative assessment of cortical IGF-I mRNA. Results indicate that both the distribution and levels of brain IGF-I mRNA do not change significantly between 2 and 30 months of age in the rat. However, in spite of relatively constant levels of mRNA, other studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that cortical IGF-I protein levels decrease 36.6% between 11 and 32 months of age, suggesting that IGF-I function is decreased with increasing age.

Several reports have demonstrated that cerebral blood flow decreases with age and may contribute to neurodegenerative changes found in aging animals and man. Because GH and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) decrease with age and have an important role in vascular maintenance and remodeling, we hypothesized that the decrease in cerebral blood flow is associated with a rarefaction of cerebral blood vessels resulting from a decline in GH and IGF-1. Measurements of vascular density (number of vessels/cortical surface area) in both Brown-Norway and Fisher 344/Brown-Norway rats were made at 5, 13, and 29 months of age using chronic cranial window chambers that allowed viewing of the cortical surface and its corresponding vasculature. Correlations were made with plasma levels of IGF-1. In Brown-Norway rats, arteriolar density decreased from 15.53 +/- 1.08 to 9.49 +/- 0.62 endpoints/mm2 in 7- and 29-month-old animals, respectively (P < 0.05). A decline was observed also in arteriolar anastomoses [3.05 +/- 0.21 to 1.42 +/- 0.24 connections/mm2 in 7- and 29-month-old animals (P < 0.05)]. Venular density did not decrease with age. Similar changes were observed in Fisher 344/Brown-Norway rats. The number of cortical surface arterioles was correlated with plasma IGF-1 levels at the time of vascular mapping (r = 0.772, P < 0.05), and injection of bovine GH (0.25 mg/kg, s.c., twice daily for 35 days) to 30-month-old animals increased both plasma IGF-1 and the number of cortical arterioles. These data indicate that: 1) vascular density on the surface of the cortex decreases with age; 2) vascular density is correlated with plasma levels of IGF-1; and 3) injection of GH increases cortical vascular density in older animals. We conclude that GH and IGF-1 have an important role in the decline in vascular density with age and suggest that decreases in vascular density may have important implications for the age-related decline in cerebral blood flow and brain function.

This study was undertaken to explore the time course of the metabolic response to isohemic blood volume expansion (30%) in normotensive, unanesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. Whole blood, drawn from a femoral artery catheter of conscious donor rats, was infused into the jugular vein of recipient rats. Blood samples were drawn from a carotid artery of recipient rats at time points beginning immediately post-volume expansion (IPVE) up through 5 days post-volume expansion (PVE). To characterize the attendant compensatory mechanisms, the plasma concentrations of electrolytes and fluid regulatory hormones were determined. Hematocrit began to raise IPVE and was significantly elevated above control IPVE 20, 30, 40, 60, and 90 min, and 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hr PVE. Consistent with our current understanding of the hormonal response to excess volume, atrial natriuretic factor was significantly increased above the prevolume expansion (control) values 0-30 min PVE. Surprisingly, plasma aldosterone levels were significantly increased above control at 20 and 30 min and 6 hr PVE, whereas plasma renin activity was significantly decreased 30-40 min PVE. Plasma sodium was not changed from control values except for a significant increase at 6 hr post-volume expansion. Plasma potassium, osmolality, and arginine vasopressin levels were not altered by the volume expansion. These studies delineate the physiologic time scheme operative in the regulation of fluid volume during acute ischemic volume expansion.

The chronic cranial window preparation allows repeated measurements of the same pial vessels in unanesthetized rats for several weeks and correlation with 24-h monitoring of hemodynamic variables. Nimodipine (20 mg) or placebo was given via two subcutaneous pellets. Large arterioles dilated 26 and 16%, at hour 1 and days 6-13, respectively (P less than 0.02). There was an increase in number of small arterioles throughout the whole observation period with the maximal increment of 47% (P less than 0.05) at days 6-13. Maximal vasodilation with 10% CO2 indicated that the increase in number of small arterioles after administering nimodipine was not caused by the opening of previously closed vessels. The total length of small arterioles and venules increased 47 and 23% at days 6-13, respectively (P less than 0.001). These increases seem to be caused by the increases in the numbers of vessels, because the average length of the small vessels did not appear to change. This suggests that nimodipine reduces cerebral vascular resistance by causing cerebral microvessel neovascularization. Our data demonstrate that the administration of nimodipine (20 mg) is potent in dilating pial arterioles in the short-term without affecting systemic arterial pressure, and that its long-term effect results in new vessel growth.

Previous studies in rats have demonstrated that immune system dysfunction contributes to the aetiology of spontaneous hypertension. Chronic immunosuppression with cyclophosphamide attenuated the level of hypertension in Okamoto spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) by approximately 50%. Also, neonatal thymic implants delayed the development of spontaneous hypertension and significantly attenuated its level at the age of 22 weeks in SHR. In the present study, the effect of thymectomy at the age of 4 weeks on blood pressure was investigated in SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. The removal of the thymus gland in 4-week-old SHR produced a significant reduction in systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) when rats were 16-19 weeks old, while no pressure reduction was observed in WKY rats. The decrease in arterial pressure of 16-week-old SHR was associated with a significant reduction in lymphocyte count at this age as compared with the control group. In 1-year-old SHR, thymectomized at the age of 4 weeks, there was no significant difference in arterial pressure or lymphocyte count compared with controls. These data support the hypothesis that an immune imbalance may be important in the development of spontaneous hypertension. We conclude that thymectomy at a young age (4 weeks) delays the development of hypertension in SHR.

Chronic microcirculatory alterations produced by prolonged use of a vasoactive drug were repeatedly observed in the same skeletal muscle vessels of the dorsal microcirculatory chamber. Arterioles and venules with diameters averaging from 70 to 90 microns, the size range contributing most to peripheral vascular resistance, were measured daily for 6 days to determine differences in diameter, tortuosity, and number of branches. Hydralazine was given as a subcutaneous pellet (2.5 mg), with a release life of 21 days. Hydralazine caused a 39% dilation in arterioles of Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) at 3 hours but only an 8% dilation in those of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). At 6 hours, arterioles in both groups were similarly dilated (30-33%). Beyond 6 hours, both SHR and WKY arterioles returned to their prehydralazine control diameter, even though arterial pressure was still reduced. By Day 6, in WKY, but not SHR, there was an increase in the tortuosity of arterioles and a tendency for an increase in their number. Venous diameter was also increased on Day 6, consistent with the fluid retention effect of hydralazine. These data indicate that some so-called vasodilators may cause long-term alterations in growth of vessels rather than an increase in vessel caliber.

The investigation of cardiovascular function necessarily involves a consideration of the exchange of substances at the capillary. If cardiovascular function is compromised or in any way altered during exposure to zero gravity in space, then it stands to reason that microvascular function is also modified. We have shown that an increase in cardiac output similar to that reported during simulated weightlessness is associated with a doubling of the number of post-capillary venules and a reduction in the number of arterioles by 35%. If the weightlessness of space travel produces similar changes in cardiopulmonary volume and cardiac output, a reasonable expectation is that astronauts will undergo venous neovascularization. We have developed an animal model in which to correlate microvascular and systemic cardiovascular function. The microcirculatory preparation consists of a lightweight, thermo-neutral chamber implanted around intact skeletal muscle on the back of a rat. Using this technique, the performed microvasculature of the cutaneous maximus muscle may be observed in the conscious, unanesthetized animal. Microcirculatory variables which may be obtained include venular and arteriolar numbers, lengths and diameters, single vessel flow velocities, vasomotion, capillary hematocrit anastomoses and orders of branching. Systemic hemodynamic monitoring of cardiac output by electromagnetic flowmetry, and arterial and venous pressures allows correlation of macro- and microcirculatory changes at the same time, in the same animal. Observed and calculated hemodynamic variables also include pulse pressure, heart rate, stroke volume, total peripheral resistance, aortic compliance, minute work, peak aortic flow velocity and systolic time interval. In this manner, an integrated assessment of total cardiovascular function may be obtained in the same animal without the complicating influence of anesthetics.

Adenosine is a well-known locally active vasodilator metabolite. A major role in blood flow regulation has been ascribed to adenosine. This investigation compared the dose-response curves to adenosine in the cremaster of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) with Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs) at an age when cardiac output and blood flow of the SHR have been shown to be increased (6 weeks). Each concentration (10(-5), 10(-4), and 10(-3) M) was injected retrograde through the femoral artery as a bolus of 100 microliters/sec and 300 microliters/3 sec. Changes in arteriolar diameter were recorded for 3 min. Continuous monitoring techniques enabled detection of differences between strains using an average of the 3-min response (DAVG) and the 3-min response pattern. In contrast, no interstrain differences were observed using the peak diameter response (DMAX). SHRs exhibited a reduced sensitivity to adenosine which was apparent in the dose-response curves based on DAVG with 3-sec injections (P less than 0.02). There was no difference with 1-sec injections. Analysis of the 3-min response pattern showed that SHRs also returned to control diameters faster than WKYs, except at the highest dose when vessels of both strains remained dilated. These results are consistent with the role of metabolic (vasodilator) autoregulation in hypertension. If extracellular adenosine is washed out in the SHR, intraarterial injections of the same concentration of adenosine would cause a reduced response in SHRs.