RESUMEN

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I is essential for cerebellar granule neuron survival and a decline in IGF-I is implicated in various age-dependent processes. Here we show that IGF-I mRNA levels are decreased in the cerebellum of old rats compared with young rats and this was associated with increased cell death and activation of caspases 3 and 9. Growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP)-6, a synthetic ligand for the ghrelin receptor, increased IGF-I mRNA levels, decreased cell death and inhibited caspase 3 and 9 activation in the cerebellum of aged rats. These results suggest that increasing IGF-I expression in the cerebellum can decrease cell death in aged rats via inhibition of caspase 3 and 9 activation.

Asunto(s)

Envejecimiento/efectos de los fármacos , Cerebelo/efectos de los fármacos , Hormona Liberadora de Hormona del Crecimiento/farmacología , Oligopéptidos/farmacología , Envejecimiento/fisiología , Animales , Muerte Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Muerte Celular/fisiología , Cerebelo/fisiología , Hormona Liberadora de Hormona del Crecimiento/fisiología , Factor I del Crecimiento Similar a la Insulina/biosíntesis , Masculino , Oligopéptidos/fisiología , Ratas , Ratas Wistar