Maternal age and lifespan do not influence longevity in the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli

An analysis of the mean lifespans among the progeny of the viviparous rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli produced during four generations has revealed that longevity of the offspring is not affected by maternal age of the parent or by the parent's lifespan. The production of viable offspring at any time during the parent's reproductive period may be of importance in assuring the continuity of clones of this short-lived rotifer species.     

Cortisone extends life span in the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli

Cortisone at 100 and 200 microM concentrations produced a significant increase in both life span and reproduction in the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli. Two possible mechanisms are discussed to explain these results: (1) cortisone stabilization of lysosomal membranes, or (2) recognition of cortisone as a hormone capable of altering resource allocation by the rotifers.     

The effects of UV radiation and antioxidants on life span and lipid peroxidation in the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli

Lipid peroxidation (LP) rates and life span were determined in control and in ulraviolet (UV) irradiated rotifers of the species Asplanchna brightwelli. UV irradiation administered at 6 h of life significantly increased the rate of LP as the rotifers aged; it also produced a significant shortening of rotifer life span. Pretreatment with 20 microg/ml of vitamin E blocked the increase in LP and the decrease in life span induced by UV radiation. The antioxidant synergist 3,3'-thiodipropionic acid had no such UV-protective effect. These results indicate that the decrease in life span caused by UV radiation may be mediated through the production of lipid peroxides.     

Effect of antioxidants on rotifer lifespan and activity

The antioxidant thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TCA) is a sulfhydryl radical scavenger. At concentrations of 400 or 800 uM it was found to significantly extend the mean lifespan of the rotifer Asplanchna brighwelli by 7.8%. Maximum lifespan of A. brighwelli was not influenced by this drug. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a true chain-breaking antioxidant, was toxic to the rotifers. Vitamin C, an antioxidant of the reducing agent category, had no effect on rotifer lifespan. Although TCA brought about a significant increase in mean rotifer lifespan, it did not significantly affect the activity level of the rotifers. The results presented here are consistent with the free radical theory of aging.     

Nifedipine influences rotifer lifespan: Studies on the calcium theory of aging

The results presented here show that there is an increase in calcium uptake in the cells of the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli as it ages. The results further show that the 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker nifedipine prevents this age-related increase in calcium uptake when administered to rotifers at a concentration of 1.0 μM. A range of nifedipine concentrations from 0.1 μM to 5.0 μM significantly increased rotifer lifespan. Thus, prevention of an age-associated increase in calcium uptake is correlated with increased lifespan in rotifers. These findings suggest that there is an age-related decline in calcium homeostasis, and support the theory that calcium ion regulation is a vital factor in aging rotifer tissues.     

α-Tocopherol increases lifespan in the rotifer Philodina

The addition of α-tocopherol (vitamin E) to the culture medium at a concentration of 10^?4 was found to significantly extend the average lifespan of the rotifer Philodina. The oily α-tocopherol was solubilized in Tween-80 so that it would dissolve in the aqueous culture medium. Tween-80 alone had no effect on the lifespan or fecundity of the rotifers. Addition of α-tocopherol also caused a significant increase in the number of offspring per rotifer.     

Vitamin E extends lifespan in the short-lived rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli

Supplementation with vitamin E at a concentration of 25 μg/ml significantly increased the mean lifespan of the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli. Of the three life stages, the preproductive, reproductive and postreproductive, only the prereproductive stage was significantly extended by vitamin E supplementation. Vitamin E supplemented rotifers were larger than control rotifers in their early stages of life, but noth groups attained the same size by the end of their lifespan.     

Effect of calcium,magnesium and chelating agents on the lifespan of the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli

The average lifespan of the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli was significantly reduced when either 1.2 mM or 2.4 mM CaCl₂ or MgCl₂ was added to the culture medium. The maximum longevity and average number of offspring were also reduced as the concentration of either CaCl₂ or MgCl₂ was increased. In an attempt to reduce the level of divalent cations, we exposed rotifers to the chelating agents EDTA, EGTA and sodium citrate. None of these agents extended lifespan. In fact, exposure to the latter two caused a significant decrease in the average lifespan.     

The effect of temperature and of dietary restriction on lifespan and reproduction in the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli

In this study, the effects of different environmental temperatures and of dietary restriction on the lifespan, reproductive cycle, and fecundity of the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli were examined. When temperature effects were analyzed, it was observed that the mean lifespan and the times at which the reproductive cycle started and ended all increased as environmental temperatures decreased. When dietary restriction was imposed by increasing the interval between feeding times from 12 to 36 hours, there was an increase both in the mean lifespan and in the length of the reproductive period in this rotifer.     

The effect of light,dark or altered circadian cycle on the lifespan of the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli

Rotifers were maintained in various light conditions for at least 20 generations. In the first set of experiments lifespan and fecundity data were compared for groups of rotifers maintained under LL (continuous light), DD (continuous dark) or LD 12:12 (control, 12hr. light 12 hr. dark). The mean lifespan of the rotifers cultured in DD conditions was significantly increased as compared to the LL or LD 12:12 groups but there were no fecundity differences. There was no alteration in lifespan or fecundity of the LL group as compared to the LD 12:12 control. In a second set of experiments, an LD 6:18 cycle was imposed to determine whether a shift in the circadian cycle would influence lifespan. Rotifers exposed to the LD 6:18 cycle and to the DD conditions showed an 18% and 22% increase in mean lifespan respectively. The results are interpreted to demonstrate that lifespan is influenced by the circadian cycle.     

Effects of the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 on lifespan of rodents

The effect of the mitochondria-targeted, plastoquinone-containing antioxidant SkQ1 on the lifespan of outbred mice and of three strains of inbred mice was studied. To this end, low pathogen (LP) or specific pathogen free (SPF) vivaria in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Stockholm were used. For comparison, we also studied mole-voles and dwarf hamsters, two wild species of small rodents kept under simulated natural conditions. It was found that substitution of a LP vivarium for a conventional (non-LP) one doubled the lifespan of female outbred mice, just as SkQ1 did in a non-LP vivarium. SkQ1 prevented age-dependent disappearance of estrous cycles of outbred mice in both LP and non-LP vivaria. In the SPF vivarium in Moscow, male BALB/c mice had shorter lifespan than females, and SkQ1 increased their lifespan to the values of the females. In the females, SkQ1 retarded development of such trait of aging as heart mass increase. Male C57Bl/6 mice housed individually in the SPF vivarium in Stockholm lived as long as females. SkQ1 increased the male lifespan, the longevity of the females being unchanged. SkQ1 did not change food intake by these mice. Dwarf hamsters and mole-voles kept in outdoor cages or under simulated natural conditions lived longer if treated with SkQ1. The effect of SkQ1 on longevity of females is assumed to mainly be due to retardation of the age-linked decline of the immune system. For males under LP or SPF conditions, SkQ1 increased the lifespan, affecting also some other system(s) responsible for aging.     

A study of dietary restriction and lifespan in the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli monitored by chronic neutral red exposure

The rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli could be exposed to concentrations of neutral red at 0.1 to 0.75 μg.ml for two consecutive generations with no adverse effect on the lifespan or fecundity of either generation. Chronic exposure to higher concentrations of neutral red caused reductions in both lifespan and fecundity of the rotifers. Because neutral red stains the Paramecium which serve as a food source for the rotifers, the extent of red coloration in each rotifer's gut gave an approximation of how much food that rotifer had consumed. The Paramecium concentration had to be reduced to 100 per ml before pale gut coloration provided clear evidence to reduced food intake or dietary restriction. The group of rotifers with reduced food intake had a significantly longer lifespan than any other group. Their lifespan was 14.2% longer than that of control rotifers.     

泡利芬对红细胞膜稳定性及红细胞寿命的影响

目的 研究泡 芬对红细胞胰稳定性及红细胞寿命的影响。方法 采用整体和离体水平相结合的红细胞渗透性脆性实验方法。结果 ①不同受试组小鼠红细胞在低渗氯化钠溶液中的溶血百分率存在明显差异（Ｐ〈０．０５）;②在四种不同受试剂的ＮＨ４Ｃｌ溶液中,兔红细胞数明显不同,差异具有显著性意义（Ｐ〈０．０５）,且随着泡利芬浓度的增高,离体兔红细胞被溶解的数量明显减少,红细胞数明显增加,表现出泡利芬对红细胞的保护性呈明     

Effects of gamma radiation on the noninjured and unprotected left main.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gamma radiation on the noninjured, unprotected left main coronary artery. Noninjured vessel segments are often radiated during treatment of in-stent restenosis with PCI and gamma radiation. Angiographic analysis using QCA methods was performed on 55 left main arteries of patients (32 with radiation of the left main compared to 23 controls) who participated in the Washington Radiation for In-Stent Restenosis Trials (WRIST). Baseline demographics and follow-up were comparable between the two groups, concluding that gamma radiation with long radiation safety margins is feasible and safe. Gamma radiation of noninjured irradiated left main vessels when used to facilitate wide radiation margins for proximal irradiated injured LAD and LCx is safe and does not compromise the vessel integrity and its lumen.     

Beneficial effect of trandolapril on the lifespan of a severe hypertensive model.

It remains to be clarified whether ACE Inhibitors extend the lifespan in cases of severe hypertension. In the present study, we examined whether inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) would affect mortality in a very severe hypertensive model. Twelve-week-old stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were used, and measurements at this age were taken as the basal values. At this age, the systolic blood pressure of SHR-SP was 219+/-4 mmHg, while that of WKY was 102+/-3 mmHg. After 12 weeks of sodium loading, the systolic blood pressure in the placebo-treated SHR-SP reached to 251+/-4 mmHg. At 4 weeks of sodium loading, 85% of the placebo-treated SHR-SP had died, and the systolic blood pressure of the surviving rats was 249+/-26 mmHg. In the trandolapril-treated SHR-SP, the systolic blood pressure was gradually increased to 293+/-5 mmHg at 16 weeks, and none of the mice had died at this time point (0% mortality). The ACE activities of the aorta, brain, heart and kidney were increased in the surviving placebo-treated SHR-SP at 4 weeks compared with the basal levels, while they were significantly decreased in the trandolapril-treated SHR-SP at 16 weeks. These data demonstrate that trandolapril extends the lifespan of this severe hypertensive model, even in cases in which the blood pressure cannot be lowered.