ATPase Na,K-dependent activity and water–matrix interactions in cerebella of aged mice

A new analytical approach to the chemical behaviour of mouse cerebella during ageing is described. The microcalorimetric determination of Na+/K+-ATPase activity and the thermogravimetric investigation of the water–matrix interactions were performed on cerebella of mice of 2, 10 and 22 months (young, adult and aged mice). The results are compared with a preceding work regarding the same determinations performed on cerebella of ouabain-treated mice (spongy-state induced in cerebella of mice as those affected by the Jacob–Creutzfeld disease) and also with similar studies on ageing of brain in mice reported in the literature. The results here obtained on cerebella of aged mice show a substantial difference with respect to those reported for analogous samples of mice affected by a spongy-state.