SENESCENT DECLINE IN SERUM DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE-SULFATE CONCENTRATIONS IN A POPULATION OF WILD BABOONS

The physiologic functions of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DS), a pr ecursor of androgens and estrogen and the most abundant steroid in the circulation, are unknown. Nevertheless, numerous studies have shown t hat low concentrations of DS are correlated with a variety of metaboli c and cardiovascular diseases in human beings, and administration of D S to experimental animals is associated with protection from similar d iseases. Thus, the marked decline in DS concentrations with age in hum an beings may be of considerable functional significance. However, bec ause of the difficulties in studying any heterogeneous human populatio n, it has been difficult to assess the extent to which the DS decline with age is confounded by any of a number of factors (e.g., smoking, l evel of activity, genetics, diet, medication and disease). We studied the effects of age on DS concentrations in a well-characterized popula tion of wild yellow baboons living freely in a national park in East A frica. Study of these animals circumvents many of the confounds just n oted. In examining animals ranging in age from juvenile status to old age, we observed a robust decline in DS concentrations with age. The m agnitude of the decline is approximately equal in both sexes. In addit ion, the decline is similar in comparing two baboon groups which have fully natural diets with one group which forages heavily on garbage fr om people.