The pituitary: aging and spaceflown rats.
Decrements in growth hormone (GH) release we observed in two spaceflight experiments and four tail-suspended rat studies mimic age-associated changes in the mammalian pituitary GH system seen by Meites and others. The spaceflight data suggest that formation of high molecular weight bioactive disulfide-linked aggregates of the 20 and 22K monomeric GH forms may be reduced in microgravity, thereby, reducing target tissue activity. Correlative studies to confirm spaceflight as a model for pituitary GH system aging should include: 1) investigation of mechanisms of intracellular hormone packaging, 2) consequences to biological activity of the hormone molecule, and 3) study of intracellular microtubule dynamics.
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.
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Hymer
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Grindeland
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013026:Space Flight; D014893:Weightlessness / Q000009:adverse effects
D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary