Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 54, 187-191, Copyright © 1982 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Adrenocortical function in old age: response to acute adrenocorticotropin stimulation

A Vermeulen, JP Deslypere, W Schelfhout, L Verdonck and R Rubens

To elucidate the controversial point whether, in analogy with delta 5- steroid secretion, adrenal delta 4-steroid secretion is significantly decreased in elderly persons, we studied the response of plasma levels of both delta 5-steroids (dehydroepiandrosterone, 17- hydroxypregnenolone, and pregnenolone) and delta 4-steroids (cortisol, androstenedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and progesterone) to acute ACTH stimulation in four groups of young and elderly males and females, respectively. To study the possible influence of sex hormones on adrenocortical function in elderly persons, we performed the same study in male with prostatic carcinoma treated with estrogens. The data show that in elderly persons, the response of plasma delta 4-steroids to ACTH stimulation is comparable or higher than that in young subjects, whereas the response of delta 5-steroids is significantly decreased; estrogen treatment does not change this pattern. It is concluded that in elderly persons adrenal delta 4-steroid secretory capacity is unimpaired, whereas delta 5-steroid secretion is significantly decreased. The responsible mechanism remains to be elucidated.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F Labrie Future perspectives of selective estrogen receptor modulators used alone and in combination with DHEA. Endocr. Relat. Cancer, June 1, 2006; 13(2): 335 - 355. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Alevizaki, K. Saltiki, E. Mantzou, E. Anastasiou, and I. Huhtaniemi The adrenal gland may be a target of LH action in postmenopausal women. Eur. J. Endocrinol., June 1, 2006; 154(6): 875 - 881. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F Labrie, V Luu-The, A Belanger, S-X Lin, J Simard, G Pelletier, and C Labrie Is dehydroepiandrosterone a hormone? J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2005; 187(2): 169 - 196. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Kaufman and A. Vermeulen The Decline of Androgen Levels in Elderly Men and Its Clinical and Therapeutic Implications Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2005; 26(6): 833 - 876. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Giordano, M. Bo, M. Pellegrino, M. Vezzari, M. Baldi, A. Picu, M. Balbo, L. Bonelli, G. Migliaretti, E. Ghigo, et al. Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Hyperactivity in Human Aging Is Partially Refractory to Stimulation by Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blockade J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2005; 90(10): 5656 - 5662. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Traustadottir, P. R. Bosch, T. Cantu, and K. S. Matt Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Response and Recovery from High-Intensity Exercise in Women: Effects of Aging and Fitness J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2004; 89(7): 3248 - 3254. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Labrie, V. Luu-The, C. Labrie, A. Belanger, J. Simard, S.-X. Lin, and G. Pelletier Endocrine and Intracrine Sources of Androgens in Women: Inhibition of Breast Cancer and Other Roles of Androgens and Their Precursor Dehydroepiandrosterone Endocr. Rev., April 1, 2003; 24(2): 152 - 182. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. R. Parker Jr., S. M. Slayden, R. Azziz, S. L. Crabbe, G. A. Hines, L. R. Boots, and S. Bae Effects of Aging on Adrenal Function in the Human: Responsiveness and Sensitivity of Adrenal Androgens and Cortisol to Adrenocorticotropin in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2000; 85(1): 48 - 54. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				G. W. Wolkersdörfer, T. Lohmann, C. Marx, S. Schröder, R. Pfeiffer, H.-D. Stahl, W. A. Scherbaum, G. P. Chrousos, and S. R. Bornstein Lymphocytes Stimulate Dehydroepiandrosterone Production through Direct Cellular Contact with Adrenal Zona Reticularis Cells: A Novel Mechanism of Immune-Endocrine Interaction J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 1999; 84(11): 4220 - 4227. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Boscaro, A. Paoletta, E. Scarpa, L. Barzon, P. Fusaro, F. Fallo, and N. Sonino Age-Related Changes in Glucocorticoid Fast Feedback Inhibition of Adrenocorticotropin in Man J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 1998; 83(4): 1380 - 1383. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. M. Slayden, L. Crabbe, S. Bae, H. D. Potter, R. Azziz, and C. R. Parker Jr. The Effect of 17{beta}-Estradiol on Adrenocortical Sensitivity, Responsiveness, and Steroidogenesis in Postmenopausal Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 1998; 83(2): 519 - 524. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				N. A. T. M. Huizenga, J. W. Koper, P. de Lange, H. A. P. Pols, R. P. Stolk, D. E. Grobbee, F. H. de Jong, and S. W. J. Lamberts Interperson Variability but Intraperson Stability of Baseline Plasma Cortisol Concentrations, and Its Relation to Feedback Sensitivity of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis to a Low Dose of Dexamethasone in Elderly Individuals J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 1998; 83(1): 47 - 54. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				F. Labrie, P. Diamond, L. Cusan, J.-L. Gomez, A. Belanger, and B. Candas Effect of 12-Month Dehydroepiandrosterone Replacement Therapy on Bone, Vagina, and Endometrium in Postmenopausal Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 1997; 82(10): 3498 - 3505. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Labrie, A. Belanger, L. Cusan, and B. Candas Physiological Changes in Dehydroepiandrosterone Are Not Reflected by Serum Levels of Active Androgens and Estrogens But of Their Metabolites: Intracrinology J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 1997; 82(8): 2403 - 2409. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Young, B. Couzinet, K. Nahoul, S. Brailly, P. Chanson, E. E. Baulieu, and G. Schaison Panhypopituitarism as a Model to Study the Metabolism of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in Humans J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 1997; 82(8): 2578 - 2585. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]