Luisi S, Tonetti A, Bernardi F, Casarosa E, Florio P, Monteleone P, Gemignani R, Petraglia F, Luisi M, Genazzani A R
Dipartimento di Medicina della Procreazione e dell'Età Evolutiva, University of Pisa, Italy.
J Endocrinol Invest. 1998 Jul-Aug;21(7):449-53. doi: 10.1007/BF03347325.
Aging is related to critical changes of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal function. A decline in serum DHEA levels has been demonstrated in healthy elderly subjects, while ACTH and cortisol concentrations remain at normal values. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of aging on pituitary-adrenal responsiveness to hCRF in subjects of both sexes. A group of 12 physically and mentally healthy elderly subjects and a group of 12 young controls of both sexes have been selected. Blood samples were collected before and after i.v. bolus injection of hCRF; ACTH, cortisol and DHEA levels were then determined by RIA. Basal ACTH and cortisol levels did not result statistically different between controls and elderly subjects, while DHEA showed a clear and significant age-related decrease (p < 0.01). Following the hCRF injection, the responses of ACTH, cortisol and DHEA in aged subjects were higher than in young controls; ACTH (p < 0.03) and cortisol (p < 0.01) were higher in aged women than in men. The present study demonstrated that aging is associated with an increased responsiveness of ACTH, cortisol and DHEA to exogenous hCRF supply. A hyperactivation of the pituitary-adrenal secretory activity may explain the age-related of the same axis. Gender probably has a significant influence on basal and stimulated hormonal secretion. In conclusion, hCRF test may become a useful clinical tool in establishing a neuroendocrine correlation with central disturbances associated to aging.
衰老与下丘脑 - 垂体 - 肾上腺功能的关键变化有关。在健康的老年受试者中已证实血清脱氢表雄酮（DHEA）水平下降，而促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）和皮质醇浓度保持在正常水平。本研究的目的是调查衰老对男女受试者垂体 - 肾上腺对外源性促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子（hCRF）反应性的影响。选取了一组12名身心健康的老年受试者和一组12名年轻的男女对照者。在静脉推注hCRF前后采集血样；然后通过放射免疫分析（RIA）测定ACTH、皮质醇和DHEA水平。对照组和老年受试者的基础ACTH和皮质醇水平在统计学上无差异，而DHEA显示出与年龄相关的明显且显著的下降（p < 0.01）。注射hCRF后，老年受试者中ACTH、皮质醇和DHEA的反应高于年轻对照者；老年女性的ACTH（p < 0.03）和皮质醇（p < 0.01）高于男性。本研究表明，衰老与ACTH、皮质醇和DHEA对外源性hCRF供应的反应性增加有关。垂体 - 肾上腺分泌活动的过度激活可能解释了同一轴的年龄相关性变化。性别可能对基础和刺激后的激素分泌有显著影响。总之，hCRF试验可能成为建立与衰老相关的中枢紊乱的神经内分泌相关性的有用临床工具。
