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Enhanced Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis Responses to Physostigmine in Normal Aging

Enhanced Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis Responses to Physostigmine in Normal Aging Abstract Background. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of normal human aging on the hypothalamicpituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis response to the centrally active cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine. This drug stimulates the HPA axis at a suprapituitary level by increasing central nervous system (CNS) cholinergic activity. Methods. Plasma ACTH, beta-endorphin (βE) and cortisol responses to a 10-minute infusion of physostigmine (.0125 mg/kg) were compared between groups of 10 normal older subjects (71 ± 2 years [mean ± SEM]) and 9 normal young subjects (27 ± 2 years). Plasma physostigmine concentrations were measured to assess the comparability of the pharmacologic stimulus between groups. Results. Endocrine responses were substantially greater in older subjects than young subjects for ACTH (p < .01), βE (p < .01) and cortisol (p < .01). Plasma physostigmine concentrations did not differ between older and young subjects. Conclusion. This study demonstrated increased HPA axis responsivity to a CNS cholinergic stimulus in normal human aging. This content is only available as a PDF. © 1995 by The Gerontological Society of America http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biomedical Sciences and Medical Sciences Oxford University Press

Enhanced Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis Responses to Physostigmine in Normal Aging

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Publisher
Oxford University Press
Copyright
© 1995 by The Gerontological Society of America
ISSN
1079-5006
eISSN
1758-535X
DOI
10.1093/gerona/50A.2.M114
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract Background. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of normal human aging on the hypothalamicpituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis response to the centrally active cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine. This drug stimulates the HPA axis at a suprapituitary level by increasing central nervous system (CNS) cholinergic activity. Methods. Plasma ACTH, beta-endorphin (βE) and cortisol responses to a 10-minute infusion of physostigmine (.0125 mg/kg) were compared between groups of 10 normal older subjects (71 ± 2 years [mean ± SEM]) and 9 normal young subjects (27 ± 2 years). Plasma physostigmine concentrations were measured to assess the comparability of the pharmacologic stimulus between groups. Results. Endocrine responses were substantially greater in older subjects than young subjects for ACTH (p < .01), βE (p < .01) and cortisol (p < .01). Plasma physostigmine concentrations did not differ between older and young subjects. Conclusion. This study demonstrated increased HPA axis responsivity to a CNS cholinergic stimulus in normal human aging. This content is only available as a PDF. © 1995 by The Gerontological Society of America

Journal

The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biomedical Sciences and Medical Sciences – Oxford University Press

Published: Mar 1, 1995

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