title: Thymus-endocrine interactions during ageing.
abstract: The hypotesis of the thymus acting as biological clock for ageing is revisited. On the basis of data on the endocrine action of the gland, the age-dependent involution of the thymus is postulated to play a fundamental role on the deterioration of the immunological as well as the endocrine functions. Data either on beta-adrenergic responsiveness to Isoproterenol or on hormonal balance, tested on animal model with different degree of thymus efficiency, support this hypothesis.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D007545:Isoproterenol