title: Multiple mitochondrial DNA deletions associated with age in skeletal muscle of rhesus monkeys.
abstract: We have examined skeletal muscle for the presence of age-associated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions from 16 rhesus monkeys (age range 6-27 years). All animals over 13 years of age contained potential mtDNA deletions, whereas the presence of deletions was greatly reduced or absent in younger animals. The specific deletion patterns varied from individual to individual. Numerous mtDNA deletions accumulate with age in skeletal muscle from a nonhuman primate, indicating that the rhesus monkey may provide an excellent animal model to study mtDNA deletions. Further, the existence of multiple mtDNA deletions supports the possibility that they may contribute to geriatric muscular deficits, which are nearly universal in occurrence yet poorly understood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health and Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kaczkowski
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weindruch
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aiken
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D008931:Mitochondria, Muscle / Q000737:chemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017384:Sequence Deletion
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial