Oxygen dependency of life-span in the nematode.
1. The mean and maximum life-spans of both wild type Caenorhabditis elegans and the mev-1(kn1) mutant, whose cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase activity level is about half of the wild type, were increased and decreased under low and high concentrations of oxygen, respectively. 2. The Gompertz component, a parameter of ageing rate, of the wild type was smaller under 1% oxygen than under 2% or more oxygen. Further, the Gompertz component of the mutant increased with an increase in oxygen concentration. 3. The oxygen-dependent modulation of life-span and ageing rate seems to be enhanced by a genetic defect of the mutant in antioxidant defence.
Matsuo
M
M
Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Japan.
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D008017:Life Expectancy; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010100:Oxygen