Summary
In this paper we have investigated the distribution of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)-, vasopressin- and oxytocin-immunoreactive (IR) neurones in the paraventricular nucleus in the senile compared to the adult human brain. We found a higher number of CRH-IR neurones in senile compared to adult subjects. Vasopressin- and oxytocin-IR neurones were instead more weakly stained in the former compared to latter. These results support a hypothalamic involvement in promoting the higher activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and, thus, higher glucocorticoid plasma levels which have been described in the elderly.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Arbel I, Kadar T, Silbermann M, Levy A (1994) The effects of long-term conticosterone administration on hippocampal morphology and cognitive performance of middleaged rats. Brain Res 657: 227–235
Baulier EE, Schumacher M, Koenig H, Jung-Testas I, Akwa Y (1996) Progesterone as a neurosteroid: actions within the nervous system. Cell Mol Neurobiol 16: 143–154
Behan DP, Heinrichs SC, Troncoso JC, Liu X-J, Kawas CH, Ling N, DeSouza EB (1995) Displacement of corticotropin releasing factor from its binding protein as a possible treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Nature 378: 284–287
Calzà L, Giardino L, Velardo A, Battistini N, Marrama P (1990) Influence of ageing on the neurochemical organization of the rat paraventricular nucleus. J Chem Neuroanat 3: 215–231
Calzà L, Giardino L, Ceccatelli S, Hokfelt T (1996) Neurotrophin and their receptors in the adult hypo- and hyperthyroid rats after kainic acid injection: an in situ hybridization study. Eur J Neurosci 8: 1873–1881
Calzà L, Giardino L, Aloe L (1997a) Thyroid hormone regulates NGF content and p75 expression in the basal forebrain of adult rats. Exp Neurol 143: 196–206
Calzà L, Aloe L, Giardino L (1997b) Thyroid hormone-induced plasticity in the adult brain. Brain Res Bull 44: 549–557
Ceccatelli L, Calzà L, Giardino L (1996) Age-related changes in the expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor mRNA in the rat pituitary gland. Mol Brain Res 37: 175–180
Dratman MB, Gordon JT (1996) Thyroid hormones as neurotransmitters. Thyroid 6: 639–647
Finch CE, Cohen DM (1997) Ageing, metabolism and Alzheimer's disease: review and hypotheses. Exp Neurol 143: 82–102
Fuxe K, Diaz R, Cintra A, Bhatnagar M, Tinner B, Gustafsson JA, Ogran SO, Agnati LF (1996) On the role of glucocorticoid receptors in brain plasticity. Cell Mol Neurobiol 16: 239–258
Gauthier S (1996) Clinical diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease. Martin Dunitz Ltd, London
Loosen PT (1992) Effects of thyroid hormones on central nervous system in ageing. Psychoneuroendocrinol 17: 355–374
Mangelsdorf DJ, Thummel C, Beato M, Herrlich P, Schutz G, Umesono K, Blumberg B, Kastner P, Mark M, Chambon P, Evans RM (1995) The nuclear receptor superfamily: the second decate. Cell 83: 835–839
Raadsheer FC, Oorschot DE, Verwer RWH, Tilders FJH, Swaab DF (1994) Age-related increase in the total number of corticotropin-releasing hormone neurones in the human paraventricular nucleus in controls and Alzheimer's disease: comparison of the dissector with an unfolding method. J Comp Neurol 339: 447–457
Riederer P, Gsell W, Calzà L, Franzek E, Jungkunz G, Jellinger K, Reynolds GP, Crow T, Cruz-Sanches FF, Beckmann H (1995) Consensus on minimal criteria of clinical and neuropathological diagnosis of schizophrenia and affective disorders post-mortem research. Report from the European Dementia and Schizophrenia Network (BIOMED I). J Neural Transm 102: 255–264
Sapolsky RM (1992) Stress, the aging brain and the mechanisms of neurone death. MIT Press, Cambridge Ma
Sapolsky RM, Krey LC, McEwen BS (1985) Prolonged glucocorticoid reduces hippocampal neurone number: implications of ageing. J Neurosci 5: 1222–1227
Wierda M, Goudsmit E, Van Der Woude PF, Purba JS, Hofman MA, Bogte H, Swaab DF (1991) Oxytocin cell number in the human paraventricular nucleus remains constant with ageing and in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Ageing 12: 511–516
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
These data have been partially presented as the Second Congress of the European Society of Clinical Neuropharmacology, Würzburg, November 9–11, 1995
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Calzà, L., Pozza, M., Coraddu, F. et al. Hormonal influences on brain ageing quality: Focus on corticotropin releasing hormone-, vasopressin- and oxytocin-immunoreactive neurones in the human brain. J. Neural Transmission 104, 1095–1100 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01273321
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01273321