Age-related changes in monoamine oxidase and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activities of rat aorta

Aorta MAO-A and SSAO activities were measured on young (3 months) and old (23-26 months) rats. A significant decrease (30-40%) in SSAO activity was found with benzylamine as substrate and the decrease was due to a reduction in Vmax. No significant changes in MAO-A activity were found in the aorta of old rats. beta-PEA is oxidized mainly by SSAO in rat aorta. However, the significance of this is unclear since the physiological role of that enzyme remains unknown.