Hormonal regulation of longevity in mammals.
Multiple biological and environmental factors impact the life span of an organism. The endocrine system is a highly integrated physiological system in mammals that regulates metabolism, growth, reproduction, and response to stress, among other functions. As such, this pervasive entity has a major influence on aging and longevity. The growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin pathways have been at the forefront of hormonal control of aging research in the last few years. Other hormones, including those from the thyroid and reproductive system have also been studied in terms of life span regulation. The relevance of these hormones to human longevity remains to be established, however the evidence from other species including yeast, nematodes, and flies suggest that evolutionarily well-conserved mechanisms are at play and the endocrine system is a key determinant.
Brown-Borg
Holly M
HM
Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Therapeutics, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 501 North Columbia Road, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA. brownbrg@medicine.nodak.edu
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000502:physiology; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008322:Mammals
D006728:Hormones