[Research for locating the mitochondrial DNA deletions of aged guinea-pigs].
OBJECTIVE
To locate the mtDNA deletions of aged guinea-pigs.


METHODS
By reference to the common law of mtDNA deletions in humans and rats, the possible locations of mtDNA deletions in guinea-pigs were examined by PCR and DNA sequencing. The cochlear Cortis, auditory nerve and brain tissues were harvested and the total DNA was extracted.


RESULTS
It was discovered for the first time that there are 4568 bps deletions of mtDNA between nt8636-nt13203 in guinea-pigs. The mtDNA deletion incidence of the aged group was significantly higher than that of the young control group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
There exist 4568 bps deletions between CO III and ND5 genes of mtDNA in aged guinea-pigs; mtDNA4568 deletions of guinea-pig possibly contribute to aging.
Wei
Xuemei
X
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Yang
Yuan
Y
Liang
Chuangyu
C
Zheng
Zhong
Z
Zheng
Yan
Y
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000378:metabolism; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017384:Sequence Deletion
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial