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The Replica Set Method: A High-throughput Approach to Quantitatively Measure Caenorhabditis elegans Lifespan
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Vitellogenin-RNAi and ovariectomy each increase lifespan, increase protein storage, and decrease feeding, but are not

Alicia G Tetlak1,2, Jacob B Burnett3,4, Daniel A Hahn5

  • 1Next Science, 8130 Baymeadows Way W Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL, 33256, USA. alicia@tetlak.com.

Biogerontology
|August 24, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Reduced reproduction extends lifespan in grasshoppers by decreasing feeding and increasing protein storage. Combining two methods, ovariectomy and vitellogenin RNAi, did not further increase lifespan, suggesting conserved mechanisms for life extension.

Keywords:
Dietary restrictionInsectsReproductionStorage

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Area of Science:

  • Zoology
  • Insect Physiology
  • Aging Research

Background:

  • Reduced reproduction is linked to increased lifespan in many species.
  • The underlying biological mechanisms of this trade-off remain largely unknown.
  • Investigating conserved pathways can elucidate fundamental aging processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if two distinct methods of reducing reproduction (ovariectomy and vitellogenin RNAi) have additive effects on lifespan extension in grasshoppers.
  • To investigate the physiological mechanisms, including feeding behavior and protein storage, associated with life extension via reduced reproduction.
  • To explore whether feeding regulation and protein storage are conserved components of life extension.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the lubber grasshopper (Romalea microptera) model system.
  • Employed ovariectomy (OVX) and RNA interference (RNAi) targeting vitellogenin (VgRNAi) to reduce reproduction.
  • Compared six experimental groups: OVX and VgRNAi, OVX and controls (Buffer, Hex90RNAi), and Sham (control surgery) with VgRNAi and controls.

Main Results:

  • Both ovariectomy and VgRNAi independently reduced feeding by ~40% and increased hemolymph protein storage (150-300%), extending lifespan by 13-21%.
  • Combined ovariectomy and VgRNAi did not yield greater effects on feeding, protein storage, or longevity, indicating a lack of additivity.
  • Ovariectomized grasshoppers exhibited higher vitellogenin protein levels compared to VgRNAi grasshoppers.

Conclusions:

  • The mechanisms of life extension through reduced reproduction, involving feeding regulation and protein storage, appear to be conserved in insects.
  • The non-additive effects suggest that ovariectomy and VgRNAi may act through shared or parallel pathways.
  • This study provides insights into the physiological underpinnings of the reproduction-longevity trade-off.