Neuroendocrinology of Aging

1. Front Matter

   Pages N1-xvi

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2. Introduction

   • Joseph Meites

   Pages 1-3

3. Neuroendocrinology of Aging

   • Paola S. Timiras

   Pages 5-30

4. Morphological Changes in the Hypothalamus and Other Brain Areas Influencing Endocrine Function during Aging

   • James A. Clemens

   Pages 31-39

5. Changes in Hypothalamic Hypophysiotropic Hormones and Neurotransmitters during Aging

   • James W. Simpkins

   Pages 41-59

6. Changes in Hormone Uptake and Receptors in the Hypothalamus during Aging

   • Ming-Tsung Peng

   Pages 61-72

7. Relation of Neuroendocrine System to Reproductive Decline in Female Rats

   • Pierre Aschheim

   Pages 73-101

8. Changes in Ovarian Function and Gonadotropin and Prolactin Secretion in Aging Female Rats

   • John K. H. Lu

   Pages 103-122

9. The Reproductive Decline in Male Rats

   • Richard W. Steger, Henry H. H. Huang

   Pages 123-142

10. Hormonal Influences on Hypothalamic Sensitivity during Aging in Female Rodents

    • Caleb E. Finch, Charles V. Mobbs

    Pages 143-171

11. Pathophysiology of Menopausal Hot Flushes

    • Howard L. Judd

    Pages 173-202

12. Relation of the Neuroendocrine System to Reproductive Decline in Men

    • S. Mitchell Harman

    Pages 203-219

13. The Sexual Psychoendocrinology of Aging

    • Julian M. Davidson, Gary D. Gray, Erla R. Smith

    Pages 221-258

14. Regulation of Thyrotropin Physiology during Aging

    • Robert I. Gregerman

    Pages 259-274

15. Changes in Growth Hormone Secretion in Aging Rats and Man, and Possible Relation to Diminished Physiological Functions

    • William E. Sonntag, Lloyd J. Forman, Joseph Meites

    Pages 275-308

16. Changes in Hypothalamic Control of ACTH and Adrenal Cortical Functions during Aging

    • Gail D. Riegle

    Pages 309-332

17. Relation of the Neuroendocrine System to the Development of Mammary Tumors in Rats during Aging

    • Clifford W. Welsch, Charles F. Aylsworth

    Pages 333-352

18. Relation of the Neuroendocrine System to Development of Prolactin-Secreting Pituitary Tumors

    • Dipak K. Sarkar, Paul E. Gottschall, Joseph Meites

    Pages 353-376

19. Back Matter

    Pages 377-383

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JOSEPH MEITES The idea that the endocrine system is involved in aging processes is as old as the beginnings of endocrinology. The first endocrine experiment related to aging was reported by Brown-Sequard, who is usually re­ garded as the "father of endocrinology. " In 1889, at the age of 72 years, he reported that he had succeeded in rejuvenating himself by injections of testicular extracts from dogs and guinea pigs. Although the favorable effects observed may have been due mainly to the powers of auto­ suggestion, his reports created a considerable interest in endocrinology and its relation to aging, and eventually led to the use of estrogens for treating certain pre-and postmenopausal symptoms in women, and an­ drogens for treating some symptoms in aging men. Up to about the 1960's, the relatively few studies on endocrine-aging relationships dealt mainly with changes in weight and histological appearance of endocrine organs in aging animals and human subjects, and included a limited number of measurements of endocrine function by bioassays and chem­ ical (for steroids) procedures. Within these limitations, gerontological investigators were unable to establish any definite relationships between endocrine functions and aging processes, with the exception of the con­ nection between reproductive decline and gonadal and pituitary activity.

• endocrinology
• neuroendocrinology
• steroid
• steroids
• diabetes

• Department of Physiology, Neuroendocrine Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA

  Joseph Meites

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