Advanced glycosylation end products in adrenal lipofuscin

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1998 Jan;53(1):B49-51. doi: 10.1093/gerona/53a.1.b49.

Abstract

The present study examined the presence of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) in lipofuscin present in the brain and adrenal gland of aging rats by immunohistochemistry using antibodies raised against AGEs. Lipofuscin identified as yellow to brown granules emitting bright yellow to orange autofluorescence with ultraviolet light were detected in cortical neurons, cerebellar Purkinje cells, and adrenal cells in the inner part of the zona reticularis. However, none of the antibodies visualized lipofuscin in these areas. The outer part of the zona reticularis contained yellow granules emitting a faint orange autofluorescence. These granules were immunostained by an antibody that reacted with AGEs structures unrelated to the carboxymethyllysine moiety. Newly formed adrenal cortical cells are thought to migrate from the outer layer to the inner layer of the zona reticularis. Therefore, our results suggest that glycosylation-related processes are involved in lipofuscinogenesis, at least in its early stage, in the adrenal zona reticularis.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex / cytology
  • Adrenal Cortex / metabolism
  • Adrenal Glands / cytology
  • Adrenal Glands / metabolism*
  • Aging / metabolism*
  • Aging / pathology
  • Animals
  • Antibodies
  • Brain / cytology
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cerebellum / cytology
  • Cerebellum / metabolism
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / metabolism
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / ultrastructure
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct
  • Glycation End Products, Advanced / analysis
  • Glycation End Products, Advanced / metabolism*
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lipofuscin / analysis
  • Lipofuscin / metabolism*
  • Lysine / analogs & derivatives
  • Lysine / analysis
  • Lysine / metabolism
  • Male
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / ultrastructure
  • Purkinje Cells / cytology
  • Purkinje Cells / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • Zona Reticularis / cytology
  • Zona Reticularis / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Glycation End Products, Advanced
  • Lipofuscin
  • N(6)-carboxymethyllysine
  • Lysine