Objective: 

The aim of this study was to examine the regulation of oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation associated with aging on pancreas of old mice and how Growth Hormone (GH) treatment could affect this process.

Methods: 

Male senescence-accelerated SAMP8 and SAMR1 mice of 2 (young) and 10 months (old) of age were used (n = 40). Animals were divided into five experimental groups (1, 2) SAMP8/R1 young, (3, 4) SAMP8/R1 old, (5) SAMP8 old treated with GH. Physiologically equivalent doses of GH were administered for one month (2mg s.c./kg/day) and parameters were analysed by RT-PCR, Western Blot and ELISA.

Results: 

Aging was associated with increased inflammation and oxidative stress (increased TNF-a, IL-b, IL-6, MCP1, HO-1, NOx). The ratio anti/pro apoptotic mRNA expression (Bcl-2/BAX+BAD) was decreased during aging in SAMP8 mice. With aging, protein expression of NFkB p52-100 was increased and IKB beta was decreased in pancreas of SAMP8 mice. GH treatment lowered the expression of inflammatory, oxidative stress and apoptotic markers in SAMP8 mice. Furthermore GH was able to reduce the increase observed in old SAMP8 mice in HOMA-IR index. No statistical differences were found in SAMR1 young and old animals in these parameters.

Conclusions: 

These results indicate that aging is associated with significant alterations in the relative expression of pancreatic proteins and genes involved in inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. These results showed that GH treatment was able to improve pancreatic function reducing the markers of these processes.

Acknowledgements: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (RETICEF RD06/0013 RD06/0013/0008).