Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, Vol 50, Issue 6 B322-B326, Copyright © 1995 by The Gerontological Society of America
Nematode development is inhibited by methyl viologen and high oxygen concentrations at a rate inversely proportional to life span
P Hartman, E Childress and T Beyer
Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, USA.
Eight strains of C. elegans, including seven recombinant inbred (RI)
strains with mean life spans ranging from 10.9 to 28.8 days, were reared
under two conditions (95% oxygen or methyl viologen) known to elevate the
concentration of free radicals. Both agents inhibited development, as
ascertained by measuring the lengths of animals at regular intervals. The
degree of inhibition correlated inversely with mean life span with both
agents; that is, development of short-lived strains was inhibited more
profoundly than was development of long- lived strains. Thus, at least some
of the polygenes which prominently influence aging are the same as those
which control resistance to free radicals. These genes likely influence
aging and response to oxidative stress in many ways, both direct and
indirect.
