Hormonal influences on brain ageing quality: focus on corticotropin releasing hormone-, vasopressin- and oxytocin-immunoreactive neurones in the human brain.
In this paper we have investigated the distribution of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)-, vasopressin- and oxytocin-immunoreactive (IR) neurones in the paraventricular nucleus in the senile compared to the adult human brain. We found a higher number of CRH-IR neurones in senile compared to adult subjects. Vasopressin- and oxytocin-IR neurones were instead more weakly stained in the former compared to latter. These results support a hypothalamic involvement in promoting the higher activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and, thus, higher glucocorticoid plasma levels which have been described in the elderly.
Calzà
L
L
Institute of Human Physiology, University of Cagliari, Italy.
Pozza
M
M
Coraddu
F
F
Farci
G
G
Giardino
L
L
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000502:physiology*; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000502:physiology*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006728:Hormones; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014667:Vasopressins; D010121:Oxytocin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone