Regional analysis of neostriatal cholinergic and dopaminergic receptor binding and tyrosine hydroxylase activity as a function of aging.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity, as well as dopaminergic and cholinergic muscarinic receptor binding were measured in discrete regions of the neostriatum of rats 7, 17, and 27 months old. Activity of TH was highest in the rostral neostriatum as compared to the caudal region. Age-related differences in TH were detected in only one region. The density of dopamine receptors was also highest in the rostral neostriatum of all age groups, but there were no significant age-related differences. The distribution of cholinergic muscarinic receptor binding was similar to that of TH and dopaminergic receptors, and showed age-related changes in discrete regions. These results, when considered with previous data, suggest that in selected striatal regions in the Sprague Dawley rat the cholinergic system is more vulnerable than the dopaminergic system to aging effects.