Neuroendocrine aging in birds: comparing lifespan differences and conserved mechanisms

As more comparative data become available, it is clear that the process of aging has fundamental similarities across classes of vertebrates. Birds provide a fascinating collection of species because of the considerable range in reproductive lifespan and variation in reproductive strategies that often relate to lifespan. One fascinating aspect of the comparative biology of aging in different avian species is the conserved mechanisms that appear very similar to those observed in mammals. Despite marked differences in sexual differentiation and reproductive function, including a single functional ovary and the internal testes, there appears to be remarkable similarity in elements of neuroendocrine aging and their end results. Furthermore, although beyond the scope of this review, the intense endocrine and energetic demands on many species of temperate zone birds for long migration and the accompanying seasonal alterations in endocrine responses add an additional layer of complexity in understanding aging. It is the purpose of this review to focus on neuroendocrine changes that accompany aging in a short-lived bird, with mention of some of the available data in field birds and long-lived species. Unfortunately, few neuroendocrine data are available for these long-lived avian species. It would be very interesting to determine if these long-lived birds somehow manage to delay the cascade of changes that contribute to the demise of metabolic and reproductive endocrine function. This review will also attempt to integrate the time-related events that occur in the responses of the hypothalamus and the gonads, especially relative to the neuroregulatory systems that have been implicated in the age-related decline in reproductive function. Finally, emerging areas of interest will be considered in the context of future research areas.