title: Influence of photosensitizers and light on the life span of Drosophila.
abstract: The life span of adult Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies changed when they were fed two different photosensitizers. Methylene blue decreased the median life span by 49% when present in the food at a concentration of 0.001 M. Another photosensitizer, riboflavin, produced no changes in life span under the same conditions of a 12:12 h light/dark cycle at a daytime light intensity of 1000 lux. Flies exposed to constant darkness lived 43.2% longer than those exposed to constant light at a light intensity of 2000 lux. Under these conditions, riboflavin increased the life span of the flies exposed to constant light by as much as 25%. We conclude that riboflavin confers some degree of protection against the effects of constant light exposure. The completely different results obtained with riboflavin and methylene blue suggest a possible mechanism for photoageing involving photodynamic action mediated through the production of singlet oxygen.
authors.affiliation: Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, Utica, NY 13501.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Massie
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Aiello
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D008751:Methylene Blue; D012256:Riboflavin