Effects of housing and nutrition condition on the reproduction of SAMR1, SAMP6 and SAMP8 at NILS aging farm

The senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM-P8) as a model for the study of vascular functional alterations during aging

We studied vascular function in quiescent aortas from senescence-accelerated resistant (SAM-R1) and prone (SAM-P8) mice. Myographical studies of thoracic aorta segments from 6-7 month-old mice showed that the contractility of SAM-P8 aortas was markedly higher than that of SAM-R1 after KCl depolarization or phenylephrine addition. Acetylcholine dose-response relaxation curves revealed that SAM-R1 vessels were slightly more sensitive than those of SAM-P8. In the presence of the NO synthase inhibitor, L-NAME, all vessels displayed contractions to acetylcholine, but these were more distinct in the SAM-R1. Phenylephrine plus L-NAME displayed stronger contractions in both animal strains, but were markedly more pronounced in SAM-R1. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin did not change the vessel responses to acetylcholine or phenylephrine. These data indicate that NO synthase, not cyclooxygenase, was responsible for the differences in contractility. Standard histology and immunohistochemistry of endothelial NO synthase revealed no differences in the expression of this protein. In contrast, increased levels of malondialdehyde were found in SAM-P8 vessels. We conclude that SAM-P8 vessels exhibit higher contractility than those of SAM-R1. Furthermore, our results suggest that the endothelium of SAM-P8 vessels is dysfunctional and lacks normal capability to counteract smooth muscle contraction. Therefore, our findings support SAM-P8 as a suitable model for the study of vascular physiological changes during aging.

Soleus muscles of SAMP8 mice provide an accelerated model of skeletal muscle senescence

Animal models are valuable research tools towards effective prevention of sarcopenia and towards a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle aging. We investigated whether senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM) strains provide valid models for skeletal muscle aging studies. Male senescence-prone mice SAMP6 and SAMP8 were studied at age 10, 25 and 60 weeks and compared with senescence-resistant strain, SAMR1. Soleus and EDL muscles were tested for in vitro contractile properties, phosphocreatine content, muscle mass and fiber-type distribution. Declined muscle mass and contractility were observed at 60 weeks, the differences being more pronounced in SAMP8 than SAMP6 and more pronounced in soleus than EDL. Likewise, age-related decreases in muscle phosphocreatine content and type-II fiber size were most pronounced in SAMP8 soleus. In conclusion, typical features of muscular senescence occur at relatively young age in SAMP8 and nearly twice as fast as compared with other models. We suggest that soleus muscles of SAMP8 mice provide a cost-effective model for muscular aging studies.