For
more than two decades the authors have successfully worked
in the important field of hormone- and neurotransmitter-dependent
organisation and aging of the neuroendocrine system, that
controls fundamental processes of life, such as reproduction,
metabolism, growth and information processing. In extensive
animal experiments they obtained several findings suggesting
that monoaminergic neurons – mainly serotonergic and
noradrenergic neurons of the brain – and the pineal gland
play an integrative role in this development process of the
neuroendocrine system:
1.
Perinatal administration of neurotropic drugs acting on monoaminergic
neurons gave rise to life-long disorders of neuroendocrine
functions, such as ovarian cycles, spermatogenesis, thyroid
functions and body growth.
2.
Neonatal pinealectomy prevented the development of the testosterone-induced
constant estrus-anovulatory (CEA) syndrome.
3.
The aging induced CEA syndrome could be reversed – at
least in part – by melatonin treatment. Hence, the age-related
decrease of pineal melatonin production – primarily induced
by degenerative changes of noradrenergic neurons – might
be one of causal factors initiating processes of aging. The
antioxidant effect of melatonin might explain its life-span
prolonging effect, at least to a certain degree.
4.
Environmental toxins – e.g. the F2-mycotoxin of Fusarium
(Zearalenone) – applied either in pregnant rats or in
new-born pups caused, life-long infertility in the offspring.
These
four examples of many experimental data, documented by 17
tables and 25 figures and supplemented by about 300 references,
demonstrate clearly the great significance of the environment-dependent
development of the neuroendocrine system in critical periods
for animal as well as human health and open new possibilities
for preventive medicine. The valuable book can be recommended
for human and veterinary doctors – especially to endocrinologists
and gerontologists – as well as to biologists and specialists
in animal husbandry and environmental protection.
Günter Dörner
September 9, 2002
