title: Differences in the circadian rhythm parameters of urinary free epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine between children and elderly subjects.
abstract: The circadian rhythm in the urinary excretion of free epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine was studied in 60 elderly men and 83 women, 77 +/- 8 years of age, in a total of 260 24-hour profiles and in 63 boys and 81 girls, 11 +/- 1.5 years of age, in 144 24-hour profiles. The circadian mesor of all these compounds was increased in the children over that in the elderly subjects while the acrophase remained unchanged in spite of a phase shift of the acrophase of the urine excretion of the elderly in the night hours. The differences in functional state of the sympathetic and adreno-medullary function (and/or response) between children and elderly subjects may have clinical implications.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004298:Dopamine / Q000652:urine*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006043:Goiter, Endemic / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000652:urine*; D012383:Romania; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine