Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 73, 495-502, Copyright © 1991 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Spontaneous and glucocorticoid-inhibited adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol secretion are similar in healthy young and old men

C Waltman, MR Blackman, GP Chrousos, C Riemann and SM Harman
Endocrinology Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.

We investigated the effects of age on pituitary-adrenocortical function in healthy young (21-38 yr, n = 11) vs. old (66-78 yr, n = 11) men by drawing frequent serial basal blood samples from 2000-0800 h for measurement of ACTH and cortisol, followed by an iv ovine CRH (oCRH) stimulation test. Subjects were readmitted at intervals and given increasing doses of oral dexamethasone (0.15, 0.3, 0.6, 1 mg) at midnight, followed by repeat blood sampling from 0400-0800 h and oCRH testing. We compared mean hormone levels for the entire 12-h and three component 4-h periods of the basal visit, and for each 4-h dexamethasone visit using the Mann-Whitney U test and repeated measures analysis of variance. Pulsatile secretion was characterized using the Pulsar computer program. Basal mean 12-h and 4-h ACTH and cortisol values did not differ with age (P greater than 0.1). Pulse analysis revealed no age change in the corresponding values for peak frequency, amplitude, or duration for either hormone examined. Increasing doses of dexamethasone produced progressive inhibition of mean ACTH and cortisol levels (P less than 0.001) as well as decreased (P less than 0.01) pulse frequency, amplitude, and duration with no age differences (P greater than 0.1). ACTH and cortisol responses to oCRH were progressively suppressed by increasing doses of dexamethasone (P less than 0.02) and did not differ between age groups (P greater than 0.3) except for a slightly higher peak cortisol response (P = 0.05) in the older men at the 0.3 mg dexamethasone dose. We conclude that basal and oCRH-stimulated ACTH and cortisol secretion, as well as sensitivity of the ACTH-cortisol axis to glucocorticoid feedback suppression, are essentially unaltered with age in healthy men.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. T. Ho, H. Al-Musalhi, M. J. Chapman, T. Quach, P. D. Thomas, C. J. Bagley, J. G. Lewis, and D. J. Torpy Septic Shock and Sepsis: A Comparison of Total and Free Plasma Cortisol Levels J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2006; 91(1): 105 - 114. [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]

				L. Sher Type D personality: the heart, stress, and cortisol QJM, May 1, 2005; 98(5): 323 - 329. [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]

				R. Pasquali, B. Ambrosi, D. Armanini, F. Cavagnini, E. D. Uberti, G. Del Rio, G. de Pergola, M. Maccario, F. Mantero, M. Marugo, et al. Cortisol and ACTH Response to Oral Dexamethasone in Obesity and Effects of Sex, Body Fat Distribution, and Dexamethasone Concentrations: A Dose-Response Study J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2002; 87(1): 166 - 175. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Gusenoff, S. M. Harman, J. D. Veldhuis, J. J. Jayme, C. St. Clair, T. Munzer, C. Christmas, K. G. O'Connor, T. E. Stevens, M. F. Bellantoni, et al. Cortisol and GH secretory dynamics, and their interrelationships, in healthy aged women and men Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, April 1, 2001; 280(4): E616 - E625. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. W. WILKINSON, E. C. PETRIE, S. R. MURRAY, E. A. COLASURDO, M. A. RASKIND, and E. R. PESKIND Human Glucocorticoid Feedback Inhibition Is Reduced in Older Individuals: Evening Study J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2001; 86(2): 545 - 550. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. Kizaki, T. Ookawara, K. Iwabuchi, K. Onoé, N. K. Day, R. A. Good, N. Maruyama, S. Haga, N. Matsuura, Y. Ohira, et al. Age-associated increase of basal corticosterone levels decreases ED2high, NF-{kappa}Bhigh activated macrophages J. Leukoc. Biol., July 1, 2000; 68(1): 21 - 30. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. A. Gust, M. E. Wilson, T. Stocker, S. Conrad, P. M. Plotsky, and T. P. Gordon Activity of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Is Altered by Aging and Exposure to Social Stress in Female Rhesus Monkeys J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2000; 85(7): 2556 - 2563. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Bergendahl, A. Iranmanesh, T. Mulligan, and J. D. Veldhuis Impact of Age on Cortisol Secretory Dynamics Basally and as Driven by Nutrient-Withdrawal Stress J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2000; 85(6): 2203 - 2214. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. A. P. DA SILVA Sex Hormones and Glucocorticoids: Interactions with the Immune System Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., June 22, 1999; 876(1): 102 - 118. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				U. Schweiger, M. Deuschle, B. Weber, A. Korner, C.-H. Lammers, J. Schmider, U. Gotthardt, and I. Heuser Testosterone, Gonadotropin, and Cortisol Secretion in Male Patients With Major Depression Psychosom Med, May 1, 1999; 61(3): 292 - 296. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				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]

				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]

				M. Deuschle, U. Schweiger, B. Weber, U. Gotthardt, A. Korner, J. Schmider, H. Standhardt, C.-H. Lammers, and I. Heuser Diurnal Activity and Pulsatility of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal System in Male Depressed Patients and Healthy Controls J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 1997; 82(1): 234 - 238. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]