Vermeulen A, Deslypere J P
Maturitas. 1985 Sep;7(3):273-9. doi: 10.1016/0378-5122(85)90050-7.
The decrease of plasma testosterone (T) in elderly men may be inherent to the ageing process or secondary to environmental factors such as stress, smoking and physical activity. Plasma T, apparent free T and gonadotropin levels were determined in healthy men aged 26-90 yr living under identical conditions (as monks in a monastery). We found a highly significant age-dependent decrease in T and apparent free T levels, and an increase in gonadotropin levels. The nyctohemeral variation in T levels was lower in elderly than in younger males. When studied in a larger group, smokers had higher T levels than non-smokers, whereas in young men plasma T levels were more sensitive to stress than in elderly men. Neither moderate physical activity, diet nor residence consistently altered plasma T levels. We conclude that the age-associated decrease in plasma T levels is inherent to the ageing process and that the major cause is at the testicular level, although there is evidence for subtle alterations at the hypothalamo-pituitary level.
老年男性血浆睾酮（T）水平的降低可能是衰老过程所固有的，也可能是由压力、吸烟和体育活动等环境因素导致的继发性变化。我们对生活在相同条件下（如寺院中的僧侣）的26至90岁健康男性的血浆T、表观游离T和促性腺激素水平进行了测定。我们发现，T和表观游离T水平随年龄增长呈极显著下降，促性腺激素水平则升高。老年男性T水平的昼夜变化幅度低于年轻男性。在更大规模的群体研究中，吸烟者的T水平高于不吸烟者，而在年轻男性中，血浆T水平对应激的敏感性高于老年男性。适度的体育活动、饮食及居住环境均未持续改变血浆T水平。我们得出结论，血浆T水平随年龄增长而下降是衰老过程所固有的，主要原因在于睾丸水平，尽管有证据表明下丘脑 - 垂体水平存在细微变化。
