X-Message-Number: 13376
Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2000 17:14:32 -0800 (PST)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: drosophila longevity experiments

Citations: 1-4
<1>
Authors
  Mockett RJ.  Sohal RS.  Orr WC.
Institution
  Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas,
  Texas 75275, USA.
Title
  Overexpression of glutathione reductase extends survival in transgenic
  Drosophila melanogaster under hyperoxia but not normoxia.
Source
  FASEB Journal.  13(13):1733-42, 1999 Oct.
Abstract
  The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that overexpression of
  glutathione reductase in transgenic Drosophila melanogaster
  increases resistance to oxidative stress and retards the aging process.
  Transgenic flies were generated by microinjection and subsequent mobilization
  of a P element construct containing the genomic glutathione reductase gene of
  Drosophila, with 4 kb upstream and 1.5 kb downstream of the
  coding region. Transgenic animals stably overexpressed glutathione reductase
  by up to 100% throughout adult life and under continuous exposure to 100%
  oxygen or air. Under hyperoxic conditions, overexpressors had increased
  longevity, decreased accrual of protein carbonyls, and
  dramatically increased survival rates after recovery from a semi-lethal dose
  of 100% oxygen. Under normoxic conditions, overexpression of glutathione
  reductase had no effect on longevity, protein carbonyl
  content, reduced glutathione, or glutathione disulfide content, although the
  total consumption of oxygen was slightly decreased. Glutathione reductase
  activity does not appear to be a rate-limiting factor in anti-aging defenses
  under normoxic conditions, but it may become a limiting factor when the level
  of oxidative stress is elevated.

<2>
Authors
  Brack C.  Bechter-Thuring E.  Labuhn M.
Institution
  Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Title
  N-acetylcysteine slows down ageing and increases the life span of
  Drosophila melanogaster.
Source
  Cellular & Molecular Life Sciences.  53(11-12):960-6, 1997 Dec.
Abstract
  Ageing can be defined as the time-dependent decline of physiological
  functions of an organism. The molecular causes for the ageing process are
  multiple, involving both genetic and environmental factors. It has been
  proposed that antioxidants may positively influence the ageing process,
  protecting the organism against free radical-induced damage. Here we show
  that the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has a life-extending effect on
  Drosophila melanogaster. Dietary uptake of NAC results in a
  dose-dependent increase in median and maximum life span. Flies fed on 1 mg/ml
  NAC food live 16.6% longer; at 10 mg/ml, life span increases by 26.6%. We
  have examined the effect of NAC treatment on protein and RNA levels: we
  observe an NAC-dependent increase in absolute amounts of total RNA and
  ribosomal RNA, but no differences in protein levels. The NAC effect on
  longevity may involve differential expression of specific
  mRNA genes, as suggested by RNA finger-printing experiments.

<3>
Authors
  Anisimov VN.  Mylnikov SV.  Oparina TI.  Khavinson VK.
Institution
  Laboratory of Experimental Tumors, N.N. Petrov Research Institute of
  Oncology, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Title
  Effect of melatonin and pineal peptide preparation epithalamin on life span
  and free radical oxidation in Drosophila melanogaster.
Source
  Mechanisms of Ageing & Development.  97(2):81-91, 1997 Aug.
Abstract
  It was shown previously that epithalamin delays age-related changes in
  reproductive and immune systems and increases the life span of mice and rats.
  These effects could be mediated by stimulating influences of epithalamin on
  synthesis and secretion of melatonin and on free radical processes. A
  comparative study on the effect of epithalamin and melatonin on both the life
  span of Drosophila melanogaster (strain HEM) and on the
  intensity of lipid peroxidation and activity of antioxidative enzymes in
  their tissues was the main aim of this work. Melatonin and epithalamin was
  added to the nutrition medium (100 micrograms/ml) during 2-3rd age of larvas.
  For survival analysis the flies were passed (five coupes per vessel) each 3-7
  days. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated as the level of ketodienes (KD) and
  conjugated hydroperoxides (CHP) in fly tissues at the age of 11 days.
  Activity of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismuatse (SOD) and catalase was evaluated as
  well. The mean, median and maximum life span (MLS) were estimated. Mortality
  rate (MR) was calculated as alpha in the Gompertz equation (R = Ro (exp alpha
  t) and mortality rate doubling time (MRDT) as in 2/alpha. These parameters in
  groups of male and female flies exposed to melatonin and in male flies
  exposed to epithalamin were no different from the parameters for controls.
  However, exposure to epithalamin was followed in females by a significant
  increase in mean life span (by 17%, P < 0.02), of median (by 26%), of MLS by
  14% and by a 2.12 times decrease of MR (P < 0.01) and MRDT (by 32%) compared
  with female controls. The level of CHP and KD in the tissues of male control
  flies was 40 and 49% less than that in females and indirectly correlates with
  male life span. Exposure to melatonin was followed by a decrease in the level
  of CHP and KD in females and the deletion of sex differences in them.
  Exposure to epithalamin significantly decreased the level of CHP and KD in
  female flies compared to controls (2.3 and 3.4 times, respectively, P <
  0.001). Exposure to melatonin failed to influence the activity of catalase in
  males but increased it in females by 24% (P < 0.02) and failed to influence
  SOD activity both in males and females. Exposure to epithalamin was followed
  by a significant increase in activity of catalse, 20% in males and 7% in
  females and by an increase in SOD activity in males (41%). Thus, it was shown
  that exposure to epithalamin significantly increases the mean life span and
  MLS of female D.melanogaster and slowed down their aging rate by 2.12 times.
  This effect is in good agreement with the inhibiting effect of epithalamin in
  lipid peroxidation processes in fly tissues.

<4>
Authors
  Le Bourg E.  Minois N.
Institution
  Laboratoire d'Ethologie et de Psychologie Animale, Universite Paul Sabatier,
  Toulouse, France.
Title
  Failure to confirm increased longevity in
  Drosophila melanogaster submitted to a food restriction
  procedure.
Source
  Journals of Gerontology.  Series A, Biological Sciences &  Medical Sciences. 
  51(4):B280-3, 1996 Jul.
Abstract
  Several studies have shown that, contrary to what occurs in rodents and in
  some invertebrate species, food restriction has no positive effect on
  longevity in Drosophila melanogaster.
  However, Chippindale et al. (1993) reported that flies subjected to food
  restriction, by modulating the yeast level, could live longer. In the present
  study we used the same yeast levels as Chippindale et al. in an attempt to
  confirm these results. No positive effect of food restriction on
  longevity could be observed in either sex in mated and
  virgin flies.

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