Hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis status of humans during development of ageing process

We have investigated hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid function in four groups of healthy elderly male humans. Group A ( n=18, age range 20–45 years) served as healthy younger controls, group B ( n=10, age range 50–60 years), group C ( n=15, age range 60–70 years) and group D ( n=16, age range 70–85 ye...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinica chimica acta 1999-10, Vol.288 (1), p.137-145
Main Authors: Chakraborti, Sajal, Chakraborti, Tapati, Mandal, Malay, Das, Sudip, Batabyal, Sandip K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Ageing
Aging - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Case-Control Studies
Dopamine
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hormones. Regulation
Humans
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology
Male
Middle Aged
Prolactin
Prolactin - blood
Thyroid Gland - physiology
Thyroid hormones
Thyroid Hormones - blood
Thyroid. Parathyroid. Ultimobranchial body
Thyrotropin releasing hormone
Vertebrates: endocrinology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We have investigated hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid function in four groups of healthy elderly male humans. Group A ( n=18, age range 20–45 years) served as healthy younger controls, group B ( n=10, age range 50–60 years), group C ( n=15, age range 60–70 years) and group D ( n=16, age range 70–85 years) are the subjects of this study. Groups C and D showed significantly lower T3 and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and higher T4 levels with respect to controls. Evidence for TSH circadian modulation was found in group A (control) and group B subjects. The TRH-stimulated TSH peak was reduced among all elderly subjects with respect to controls and appeared to be pronounced with the ageing process. The maximal prolactin response was also inhibited with increasing age. Our study suggest that a resetting of the pituitary threshold for the TSH feed-back suppression along with complex alterations in peripheral thyroid hormone concentrations may, in turn, develop in older people and that appeared to manifest prominently among the oldest population. Additionally, the TSH nocturnal response appeared to be impaired with increasing age indicating an alteration of hypothalamic function.
ISSN:0009-8981
1873-3492
DOI:10.1016/S0009-8981(99)00061-3