title: Changes in boron concentration during development and ageing of Drosophila and effect of dietary boron on life span.
abstract: Total boron concentrations in Drosophila changed during development and ageing. The highest concentration of boron was found during the egg stage followed by a decline during the larval stages. Newly emerged flies contained 35.5 ppm boron. During the adult stage the boron concentration increased by 52% by 9 weeks of age. Adding excess dietary boron during the adult stage decreased the median life span by 69% at 0.01 M sodium borate and by 21% at 0.001 M sodium borate. Lower concentrations gave small but significant increases in life span. Supplementing a very low boron diet with 0.00025 M sodium borate improved life span by 9.5%. The boron contents of young and old mouse tissues were similar to those of Drosophila and human samples. We conclude that moderate levels of dietary boron may have a general protective effect in biological systems. The mechanism of this effect at present remains unknown.
authors.affiliation: Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, Utica, New York 13501.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Massie
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Whitney
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Aiello
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sternick
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001895:Boron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004032:Diet; D004330:Drosophila / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D001895:Boron