Can growth hormone (GH) accelerate aging? Evidence from GH-transgenic mice.
Overexpression of heterologous growth hormone (GH) in transgenic mice results in numerous phenotypic effects, including a drastically shortened life span. Early onset of pathological changes in the kidneys, glomerulosclerosis and glomerulonephritis, undoubtedly contributes to and perhaps accounts for reduced longevity of these animals. However, GH-transgenic mice exhibit various symptoms of accelerated aging, including increased astrogliosis, shortened reproductive life span, and early onset of age-related changes in cognitive function, hypothalamic neurotransmitter turnover, and plasma corticosterone levels. The hypothesis that supraphysiological levels of GH can accelerate aging derives indirect support from findings in GH-deficient and GH-resistant mutant mice in which aging is delayed and the life-span is increased and from the reciprocal relationship of body size and longevity within species.
Departments of Physiology and Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL 62794-9628, USA. abartke@siumed.edu
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Bartke
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001824:Body Constitution; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D023421:Models, Animal; D009929:Organ Size; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System; D012098:Reproduction
D013006:Growth Hormone