Adaptation of the human endocrine system to microgravity in the context ofintegrative physiology and ageing

This review deals with changes occurring in space in different endocrine sy stems. Sections are dedicated to hormones involved in bone remodelling, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid ax is, pancreatic hormones, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and the hy pothalamic-pituitary-somato-mammotropic system. In space, most systems - es pecially those regulating bone/muscle metabolism and reproduction - undergo changes resembling those observed during senescence, but recover within we eks or months after return. This suggests space as a possible experimental model for the study of "reversible ageing processes". Studying ageing throu gh space technology might give us the opportunity to combine the holistic v iew of integrative physiology with the most ambitious goal of the present s cientific community, i.e. to yield successful ageing by promoting chronic d isease prevention studies and by optimizing safe, anti-ageing therapeutic p rotocols.