Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Reproducibility of Serum Androgen Concentrations by Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry in Healthy Male and Female Athletes.

Drug testing and analysis·2026
Same author

Macronutrient mixtures and interactions in health and disease.

Nature reviews. Endocrinology·2026
Same author

Serum Androgen Profile of Elite Athletes.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·2026
Same author

Short-Term Dietary Intervention Alters Physiological Profiles Relevant to Ageing.

Aging cell·2026
Same author

The ontogeny of sex differences in exercise performance.

Journal of the Endocrine Society·2026
Same author

Corrigendum to "Ageing and liver immune cells" [Ageing Res. Rev. 115 (2026) 103039].

Ageing research reviews·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Frailty Assessment in an Aging Mouse Model
06:58

Frailty Assessment in an Aging Mouse Model

Published on: September 23, 2025

903

Macronutrient balance, reproductive function, and lifespan in aging mice.

Samantha M Solon-Biet1, Kirsty A Walters2, Ulla K Simanainen2

  • 1Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Ageing and Alzheimers Institute, Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia; ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia;

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|March 4, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Dietary macronutrient balance significantly impacts reproduction and lifespan in mice, revealing distinct optimal ratios for each function. These findings highlight sex-specific responses to protein, carbohydrate, and fat intake, challenging a one-size-fits-all approach to aging and reproduction.

Keywords:
aginglifespanmacronutrientsnutritionreproduction

More Related Videos

Orthotopic Ovarian Transplantation Procedures to Investigate the Life- and Health-span Influence of Ovarian Senescence in Female Mice
06:49

Orthotopic Ovarian Transplantation Procedures to Investigate the Life- and Health-span Influence of Ovarian Senescence in Female Mice

Published on: February 12, 2018

11.6K
Body Composition and Metabolic Caging Analysis in High Fat Fed Mice
10:28

Body Composition and Metabolic Caging Analysis in High Fat Fed Mice

Published on: May 24, 2018

16.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Frailty Assessment in an Aging Mouse Model
06:58

Frailty Assessment in an Aging Mouse Model

Published on: September 23, 2025

903
Orthotopic Ovarian Transplantation Procedures to Investigate the Life- and Health-span Influence of Ovarian Senescence in Female Mice
06:49

Orthotopic Ovarian Transplantation Procedures to Investigate the Life- and Health-span Influence of Ovarian Senescence in Female Mice

Published on: February 12, 2018

11.6K
Body Composition and Metabolic Caging Analysis in High Fat Fed Mice
10:28

Body Composition and Metabolic Caging Analysis in High Fat Fed Mice

Published on: May 24, 2018

16.6K

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Dietary macronutrient balance critically influences reproductive output and lifespan in invertebrates.
  • A resource-based trade-off between reproduction and longevity is suggested by these invertebrate studies.
  • Mammalian responses to macronutrient balance, particularly concerning aging and reproduction, remain less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of dietary protein (P), carbohydrate (C), fat (F), and energy (E) on lifespan and reproductive function in aging male and female mice.
  • To determine if macronutrient balance impacts mammalian longevity and reproduction similarly to invertebrates.
  • To identify sex-specific differences in response to dietary macronutrient composition.

Main Methods:

  • Mice were fed ad libitum one of 25 diets varying in P, C, F, and E content.
  • Reproductive outcomes were assessed at 15 months of age.
  • Maximal longevity and various reproductive indicators (e.g., sperm count, uterine mass, follicle number, estrous cycling) were measured.

Main Results:

  • Optimal macronutrient balances for reproduction and lifespan differed, with a trade-off observed.
  • Maximal longevity was achieved on lower protein-to-carbohydrate (P:C) ratios (1:13 males, 1:11 females).
  • Reproductive functions, such as sperm production and uterine mass, were optimized on higher P:C ratios (1:1), while estrous cycling and corpora lutea counts varied with different P:C ratios.

Conclusions:

  • Macronutrient balance has significant and often opposing effects on mammalian reproduction and longevity, mirroring invertebrate findings.
  • Sex-specific dietary requirements exist for optimizing longevity and reproductive health in aging mice.
  • The study identifies distinct dietary compositions that maximize lifespan versus reproductive capacity, suggesting a complex interplay rather than a simple trade-off.