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Caloric restriction of rhesus monkeys lowers oxidative damage in skeletal muscle

T A Zainal1, T D Oberley, D B Allison

  • 1Departments of Nutritional Sciences, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medicine, Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA.

Insights

Caloric restriction (CR) in primates significantly reduces age-related oxidative damage in skeletal muscle. This study quantifies and localizes this damage, showing CR lowers markers like HNE-modified proteins and carbonyls.

Area of Science:

  • Aging research
  • Skeletal muscle physiology
  • Oxidative stress

Background:

  • Caloric restriction (CR) in rodents slows aging and reduces muscle oxidative damage.
  • Age-dependent oxidative damage accumulates in skeletal muscle, affecting lipids, DNA, and proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify and localize age-dependent oxidative damage in rhesus monkey skeletal muscle.
  • To investigate the effect of CR on oxidative damage markers in primate skeletal muscle.

Main Methods:

  • Immunogold electron microscopy (EM) using antibodies against 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE)-modified proteins, dinitrophenol, and nitrotyrosine.
  • Biochemical assays for malondialdehyde, 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals, and protein carbonyls.
  • Analysis of skeletal muscle from rhesus monkeys aged 2-34 years, including a CR group.

Main Results:

  • A fourfold increase in HNE-modified proteins and a twofold increase in carbonyls were observed with aging.
  • CR significantly reduced levels of HNE-modified proteins, carbonyls, and nitrotyrosine compared to controls.
  • Oxidative damage was primarily localized to myofibrils in skeletal muscle.

Conclusions:

  • This is the first study to morphologically quantify and localize age-dependent oxidative damage in mammalian skeletal muscle.
  • Caloric restriction demonstrably lowers oxidative damage in primate skeletal muscle, suggesting a potential anti-aging intervention.

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