Altered pulsatile and coordinate secretion of pituitary hormones in aging: evidence of feedback disruption

Aging (Milano). 1997;9(4 Suppl):19-20. doi: 10.1007/BF03339688.

Abstract

A novel thesis is that healthy aging of neuroendocrine axes is marked by disruption of orderly patterns of hormone release. This can be quantified by a recently validated approximate entropy statistic applied to 24-hour hormone profiles, e.g., luteinizing hormone (LH), and growth hormone (GH). Moreover, more subtle disturbances of feedback control are indicated by decreased conditional regularity or synchrony (higher cross-approximate entropy) within coupled axes, such as ACTH-cortisol, LH-testosterone, etc. Such alterations can precede any changes in mean serum hormone concentrations, thus highlighting an impact of age on the feedback control mechanisms that coordinate the flow of signaling information within a neuroendocrine axis or network.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / metabolism*
  • Feedback / physiology
  • Humans
  • Pituitary Hormones / metabolism*
  • Pulsatile Flow

Substances

  • Pituitary Hormones