Although fasting and refeeding reveal the existence of age-related changes in carbohydrate
and lipid metabolism, the effects of aging on mineral metabolism in refed animals
are unknown. We therefore investigated hormonal regulation of calcium metabolism in
young (4 months) and old (26 months) male rats fasted for 48 hours and then refed
for 4 or 24 hours. Serum concentrations of total and ionized calcium and parathormone
were similar in control young and old rats. Serum calcitonin level was higher, and
the concentrations of albumin and inorganic phosphate and alkaline phosphatase activity
were lower in fed old rats. In young fasted rats, the serum ionized and total calcium
was decreased, and phosphate concentration was increased. In old rats, fasting resulted
in the increase of serum parathormone level. Fasting reduced serum alkaline phosphatase
activity to a similar extent in both age groups. In young rats, refeeding for 24 h
normalized serum calcium and phosphate levels and alkaline phosphatase activity, and
decreased serum concentrations of PTH and calcitonin. In old refed rats, serum calcitonin
concentration was raised by 77 % compared to fed or fasted animals, whereas parathormone
levels were normalized. Our results indicate that old fasted or refed rats maintain
normal serum calcium concentration in a different way than young animals, possibly
through the increase in serum levels of parathormone and/or calcitonin. Thus, dietary
manipulations such as fasting and refeeding constitute an interesting model for the
investigation of the effects of aging on the hormonal regulation of serum calcium
level.
Key words:
Aging - Fasting - Refeeding - Calcium - Alkaline Phosphatase - Rat
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Zbigniew Kmieć
Dept. Histology and Immunology
Medical University of Gdansk
ul. Debinki 1
80-211 Gdansk
Poland
Phone: Phone:+ 48 (58) 3491437
Fax: Fax:+ 48 (58) 349 1436
Email: E-mail:zkmiec@amedec.amg.gda.pl
