Purpose: Studying of the changes in the pineal gland, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis function during aging; evaluation of their role in physiological aging and some age-related diseases.
Material and methods: Forty male baboons (Papio hamadryas) and 70 female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were observed for function of HPA, HPT and the pineal gland in different age periods (from 6 to 27 years old) at basal conditions and during specific stimulation or inhibition. Plasma hormone levels were determined by radioimmunoassay and immunoenzyme methods.
Results: It has been established that the level of adrenal androgens (DHEA, DHEAS) progressively decreases during aging which results in sharp increase of cortisol/DHEA+DHEAS ratio. This fact may have an important physiological meaning because these corticosteroid fractions are antagonists in their influence on some physiological systems, e.g. immune and nervous. The HPA system sensitivity to corticosteroid feedback inhibition decreases. Restoration of the initial level of cortisol after activation of adrenals by corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) or corticotrophin (ACTH) of short action slows down which results in prolonged hypercortisolemia in old age. In contrast to cortisol, old animals exhibited a lower DHEAS response to CRH and ACTH. In the same time reactiveness of the pituitary to CRH administration was accelerated in aging monkeys in comparison with young monkeys. In male baboons concentration of 5alfa-dihydrotestosterone (DiHT) significantly decreased in old animals that led to increase of the ratio estradiol to testosterone plus DiHT. Slowing down of restoration of the pituitary-testicular axis function was noted after its activation by LHRH administration and also some refractoriness to inhibitory effect of LHRH agonists was detected. Activity of the pineal gland decreased in aging. Some age-related changes in circadian rhythm of hormone secretion were detected, in particular, amplitude of circadian rhythm of cortisol and melatonin decreased.
Conclusions: Hormonal function of the HPA, HPT systems and the pineal
gland undergo complex age-related changes. Age endocrine changes
perhaps play a pathophysiologic role in age function disorders of
hormonocompetent tissues and organs and age pathology. Timely
correction of such endocrine disturbances perhaps could be important
for age pathology treatment and also in prevention for premature and/or
accelerated aging. Main age-related endocrine dysfunctions revealed in
non-human primates are similar to those detected in humans.
Key words:
Aging, adrenals, testes, pineal gland
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