title: The effects of aging on the secretion of the common alpha-subunit of the glycoprotein hormones in men.
abstract: To investigate the effects of aging on the secretion of the common alpha-subunit of the glycoprotein hormones, we measured basal levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and alpha-subunit in 176 normal men aged 19 to 89 years. In addition, in two groups of young (less than 65 years; n = 25) and old (greater than 65 years; n = 15) subjects, the effects of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) on LH and alpha-subunit secretion were determined. Age-related increases in serum alpha-subunit and LH were noted only in the oldest men while T levels decreased progressively with advancing age. LHRH stimulation resulted in significantly greater secretion of alpha-subunit in the old subjects while no difference in LH release between young and old men was observed. Moreover, there was a delay to peak LH and alpha-subunit levels after LHRH in the old subjects. These data suggest that the aging process in males involves deficits in both testicular and gonadotroph functions as demonstrated by (1) the relative hypogonadotropic hypogonadism seen until the ninth decade; (2) the hypergonadotropic hypogonadism apparent in men greater than 80 years; (3) the delay in the timing of peak responses of LH and alpha-subunit after LHRH administration; and (4) the disproportionate increase in the secretion of alpha subunit relative to intact LH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Ceda
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Denti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ceresini
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Torsiglieri
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valenti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone