TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in orexin (hypocretin) neuronal expression with normal aging in the human hypothalamus
AU - Hunt, Nicholas J.
AU - Rodriguez, Michael L.
AU - Waters, Karen A.
AU - Machaalani, Rita
PY - 2015/1/1
Y1 - 2015/1/1
N2 - Animal studies have shown that decreased orexin expression changes sleep regulation with normal aging. This study examined orexin A and B expression in the tuberal hypothalamus in infants (0-1 year; n = 8), children (4-10 years; n = 7), young adults (22-32 years; n = 4), and older (48-60 years; n = 7) adults. Neuronal expression was defined by the percentage positive orexin immunoreactive (Ox-ir) neurons in the whole tuberal hypothalamus, and in the dorsal medial (DMH), perifornical, and lateral hypothalamus. In addition, the number of Ox-ir neurons/mm(2), regional distribution, and co-localization were examined. Within the whole tuberal hypothalamic section, there was a 23% decrease in the percentage of Ox-ir neurons between infants and older adults (p < 0.001), and a 10% decrease in older compared with younger adults (p = 0.023). These changes were confined to the DMH and/or perifornical hypothalamus. There was a 9%-24% decrease in Ox neurons/mm(2) in adults compared with infants and/or children (p ≤ 0.001). These results demonstrate a decrease in Ox expression with normal human maturation and aging. This may contribute to changes in sleep regulation during development and with aging.
AB - Animal studies have shown that decreased orexin expression changes sleep regulation with normal aging. This study examined orexin A and B expression in the tuberal hypothalamus in infants (0-1 year; n = 8), children (4-10 years; n = 7), young adults (22-32 years; n = 4), and older (48-60 years; n = 7) adults. Neuronal expression was defined by the percentage positive orexin immunoreactive (Ox-ir) neurons in the whole tuberal hypothalamus, and in the dorsal medial (DMH), perifornical, and lateral hypothalamus. In addition, the number of Ox-ir neurons/mm(2), regional distribution, and co-localization were examined. Within the whole tuberal hypothalamic section, there was a 23% decrease in the percentage of Ox-ir neurons between infants and older adults (p < 0.001), and a 10% decrease in older compared with younger adults (p = 0.023). These changes were confined to the DMH and/or perifornical hypothalamus. There was a 9%-24% decrease in Ox neurons/mm(2) in adults compared with infants and/or children (p ≤ 0.001). These results demonstrate a decrease in Ox expression with normal human maturation and aging. This may contribute to changes in sleep regulation during development and with aging.
KW - Adult
KW - Brain
KW - Development
KW - Immunohistochemistry
KW - Infant
KW - Sleep
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84920440716&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.08.010
DO - 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.08.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 25212464
AN - SCOPUS:84920440716
SN - 0197-4580
VL - 36
SP - 292
EP - 300
JO - Neurobiology of Aging
JF - Neurobiology of Aging
IS - 1
ER -