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Effects of aging on thyroidal function and proliferation.

V M Corrêa da Costa¹, D Rosenthal

¹Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal da Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Current Aging Science

|December 22, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Aging affects the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis, leading to decreased activity and hormone metabolism. Despite reduced thyroid response to thyrotropin (TSH), thyroid volume is maintained in old rats, possibly via alternative RAS-signaling pathways.

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An Ex vivo Culture System to Study Thyroid Development

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Published on: June 6, 2014

Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Aging Research
Molecular Biology

Background:

The endocrine system, including the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, is impacted by aging.
The effects of aging on HPT function are debated, with conflicting reports on thyrotropin (TSH) secretion in elders.
Distinguishing physiological aging effects from illness-induced changes in the elderly HPT axis is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the physiological consequences of aging on the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis.
To explore the role of Ras signaling pathways in modulating thyroid function during aging.
To determine if changes in the aging thyroid are adaptive or pathological.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on human and mammalian aging and HPT axis function.
Analysis of thyroid function and hormone metabolism in aging mammals.
Investigation of Ras protein expression and downstream signaling pathways (e.g., pERK) in aged rat thyroids.

Main Results:

Evidence suggests decreased HPT axis activity and thyroxine metabolism (5"-deiodination) with aging.
Aging is associated with a reduced responsiveness of thyroid cells to TSH, yet thyroid gland mass is maintained.
Increased Ras expression was observed in aged rat thyroids, with decreased pERK signaling, suggesting alternative RAS pathway activation.

Conclusions:

The HPT axis is affected at multiple levels by normal aging, potentially leading to a mild hypothyroid state.
Reduced target cell response to thyroid hormones contributes to the aging phenotype.
Alternative RAS-signaling pathways may be activated to maintain thyroid volume in aging, despite decreased TSH response.