Thymus-endocrine interactions during ageing

The hypotesis of the thymus acting as biological clock for ageing is revisited. On the basis of data on the endocrine action of the gland, the age-dependent involution of the thymus is postulated to play a fundamental role on the deterioration of the immunological as well as the endocrine functions. Data either on beta-adrenergic responsiveness to Isoproterenol or on hormonal balance, tested on animal model with different degree of thymus efficiency, support this hypothesis.