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Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Hyperactivity in Human Aging Is Partially Refractory to Stimulation by Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blockade

Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Hyperactivity in Human Aging Is Partially Refractory to... Context: The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is mainly regulated by CRH, arginine vasopressin, and glucocorticoid feedback. Hippocampal mineralocorticoid receptors mediate proactive glucocorticoid feedback and mineralocorticoid antagonists, accordingly, stimulate HPA axis. Age-related HPA hyperactivity reflects impaired glucocorticoid feedback at the suprapituitary level.Design: ACTH, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) secretion were studied in eight healthy elderly (75.1 ± 3.2 yr) and eight young (25.0 ± 4.6 yr) subjects during placebo or canrenoate (CAN) administration (200 mg iv bolus followed by 200 mg infused over 4 h).Results: During placebo administration, ACTH and cortisol areas under the curve (AUCs) in elderly subjects were higher than in young subjects (P ≤ 0.01); conversely, DHEA AUCs in elderly subjects were lower than in young subjects (P = 0.002). CAN increased ACTH, cortisol, and DHEA levels in both groups. In young subjects, ACTH, cortisol, and DHEA levels at the end of CAN infusion were higher (P ≤ 0.05) than after placebo. In elderly subjects, at the end of CAN infusion, ACTH, cortisol, and DHEA levels were higher (P = 0.01) than after placebo. Under CAN, ACTH and cortisol AUCs were persistently higher (P ≤ 0.01) and DHEA AUCs lower (P = 0.006) in elderly than in young subjects. Cortisol AUCs after CAN in young subjects did not become significantly different from those in elderly subjects after placebo.Conclusions: 1) Evening-time ACTH and cortisol secretion in elderly subjects is higher than in young subjects; 2) ACTH and cortisol secretion in elderly subjects is enhanced by CAN but less than that in young subjects; and 3) DHEA hyposecretion in elderly subjects is partially restored by mineralocorticoid antagonism. Age-related variations of HPA activity may be determined by some derangement in mineralocorticoid receptors function at the hippocampal level. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism Oxford University Press

Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Hyperactivity in Human Aging Is Partially Refractory to Stimulation by Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blockade

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References (45)

Publisher
Oxford University Press
Copyright
Copyright © 2005 by The Endocrine Society
ISSN
0021-972X
eISSN
1945-7197
DOI
10.1210/jc.2005-0105
pmid
16014406
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Context: The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is mainly regulated by CRH, arginine vasopressin, and glucocorticoid feedback. Hippocampal mineralocorticoid receptors mediate proactive glucocorticoid feedback and mineralocorticoid antagonists, accordingly, stimulate HPA axis. Age-related HPA hyperactivity reflects impaired glucocorticoid feedback at the suprapituitary level.Design: ACTH, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) secretion were studied in eight healthy elderly (75.1 ± 3.2 yr) and eight young (25.0 ± 4.6 yr) subjects during placebo or canrenoate (CAN) administration (200 mg iv bolus followed by 200 mg infused over 4 h).Results: During placebo administration, ACTH and cortisol areas under the curve (AUCs) in elderly subjects were higher than in young subjects (P ≤ 0.01); conversely, DHEA AUCs in elderly subjects were lower than in young subjects (P = 0.002). CAN increased ACTH, cortisol, and DHEA levels in both groups. In young subjects, ACTH, cortisol, and DHEA levels at the end of CAN infusion were higher (P ≤ 0.05) than after placebo. In elderly subjects, at the end of CAN infusion, ACTH, cortisol, and DHEA levels were higher (P = 0.01) than after placebo. Under CAN, ACTH and cortisol AUCs were persistently higher (P ≤ 0.01) and DHEA AUCs lower (P = 0.006) in elderly than in young subjects. Cortisol AUCs after CAN in young subjects did not become significantly different from those in elderly subjects after placebo.Conclusions: 1) Evening-time ACTH and cortisol secretion in elderly subjects is higher than in young subjects; 2) ACTH and cortisol secretion in elderly subjects is enhanced by CAN but less than that in young subjects; and 3) DHEA hyposecretion in elderly subjects is partially restored by mineralocorticoid antagonism. Age-related variations of HPA activity may be determined by some derangement in mineralocorticoid receptors function at the hippocampal level.

Journal

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism – Oxford University Press

Published: Oct 1, 2005

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