Aging Phenomena -

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Résumé :
The problem of senescence, as reflected in the history of reli? gion and philosophy, has long been one of the greatest concerns of humankind. In contrast, gerontology as a branch of science is still comparatively young. During the past decade, concomitant with rapid progress in our understanding of the basic life sciences, vast stores of knowledge about biological aging have been accumulated. This knowledge, however, arising from many scientific disciplines and focused on varying levels of biologic organization, seems almost random and covers everything from molecules to human societies. Theories advanced to interpret the facts and to understand the mech? anisms involved in senescence have remained in individual, rather than general, territories. It has long been felt by some gerontologists that it was time for the various specialists to step back and take a generalist view of gerontology, to reconsider and reevaluate the fruits of their analyt? ical pursuits at different levels within a broader context. Some others may think it still premature. It seemed, however, that the majority of those who gathered in Tokyo on the occasion of the XIth International Congress of Gerontology were of the opinion that there was much to be gained in looking for interrelationships among the facts and theories originated in the different levels of investiga? tion in an attempt to observe and appreciate the biological drama of senescence as an entity.

Sommaire:
InVitro Cell Aging.- Kinetics of the Proliferation of Human Fibroblasts during Serial Subcultivation inVitro.- New Approaches to Characterization of Aging Human Fibroblasts at Individual Cell Level.- Change of Responsiveness to Growth Stimulation of Normal Cells during Aging.- Multinucleation and Polyploidization of Aging Human Cells in Culture.- Mechanism of Age-Dependent Decrease in Sulfation of Chondroitin Sulfate.- Hydrodynamic Properties of Collagen Fibril and Aging.- Alternate Cellular Models for Aging Studies.- InVivo Cell Aging.- Aging of Hepatocytes.- The Aging Process in the Neuron.- Hypertension, Vasculature and Aging.- Aging of inVivo Cartilage Cell.- Changes in Genetic Information and Aging.- Aging and Changes in Genetic Information.- Evidence Against Somatic Mutation as a Mechanism of Clonal Senescence.- Epidermal Carcinogenesis in Young and Aging Animals.- Translational Activity and Fidelity of Purified Ribosomes from Aging Mouse Livers.- Aging and Intercellular Communication.- Interaction of Hormones with Receptors and Alterations of these Processes with Age.- Cells, Signals and Receptors: The Role of Physiological Autoantibodies in Maintaining Homeostasis.- Changes in Synaptic Structure Affecting Neural Transmission in the Senescent Brain.- Aging in the Higher Hierarchy.- Role of the Immune System in Aging.- Neuroendocrine Function and Aging.- Effect of Adult Thymectomy on Immune Potentials, Endocrine Organs and Tumor Incidence in Long-lived Mice.- Aging: Some Perspectives.- Environment and Aging-An approach to the analysis of aging mechanisms using Poikilothermic vertebrates.- Central vs. Peripheral Aging.- Longevity Potential, Phylogenetic and Ecological Constraints in Mammals.- Population Doubling Numbers in Cells with Genetic Disorders.