Stress and Aging: Effects of Disturbed Calcium Metabolism on Aging in a Progeria-Like Syndrome Induced by Dihydrotachysterol in Rats

The study explored the effects of stress and aging through an experimental model using rats, where a progeria-like syndrome was induced by dihydrotachysterol (DHT), leading to disturbed calcium metabolism. It was found that anabolic steroids could prevent weight loss and abnormal tissue calcification, not through their anabolic or antimineralocorticoid actions, but due to their catatoxic (antitoxic) properties. The research introduced the "Electrolyte-Steroid-Cardiopathy with Necrosis" (ESCN) model to demonstrate how multiple factors, including glucomineralo-corticoids and sodium salts, contribute to cardiac necrosis, which could be prevented by KCl or MgCl2. However, oral KCl had limitations for myocardial infarction treatment, indicating a need for better potassium delivery methods. The findings suggested that catatoxic steroids could prevent ESCN and might offer insights into combating spontaneous aging, which was influenced by hormones and various factors rather than a specific cause.