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Lifespan, oxygen consumption and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity of two strains of Drosophila melanogaster

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Two strains of Drosophila melanogaster were compared for lifespan, metabolic rate, and ability to scavenge in vitro generated hydroxyl radicals. The mean lifespan and oxygen consumption data were: Samarkand, 68.7 ± 21.4 days and 44.4 ± 2.6μl O2·mg−1·24hrs−1; Swedish C, 43.7 ± 11.5 days and 54.4 ± 4.6μl O2·mg−1·24hrs−1. In an experiment in which hydroxyl radicals were formed in vitro and their reaction products with 2-deoxy-D-ribose measured, we found that tissue homogenates of Samarkand flies exhibited a 39% inhibition of radical production compared to 10% by the Swedish C strain. These data are in agreement with the free radical theory of aging and suggest that both the respiration rate (O2 consumption) and the efficiency of Drosophila tissues to scavenge hydroxyl radicals are important determinants of lifespan in this insect.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sasakawa Center for Aging Research, Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine, 440 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, California, 94306

    J. E. Fleming & R. B. Shibuya

  2. Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, California, 94305

    K. G. Bensch

Authors
  1. J. E. Fleming
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  2. R. B. Shibuya
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  3. K. G. Bensch
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Fleming, J.E., Shibuya, R.B. & Bensch, K.G. Lifespan, oxygen consumption and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity of two strains of Drosophila melanogaster . AGE 10, 86–89 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02431752

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