Aging and season affect plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels in a primate.
In humans, plasma concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) declines with age and is considered as a potential predictor of longevity. DHEA-S is apparently unique to primates but few species of nonhuman primates have been studied for age-related changes in DHEA-S. In a short living primate, the grey mouse lemur (longevity 10-13 years), metabolic and physiological parameters exhibit high seasonal changes with age-related decrease in amplitude. From 8 month- to 11-year-old males (N = 175), plasma DHEA-S levels were measured either during the breeding season or during the winter sexual rest. Plasma DHEA-S levels show high significant changes according to season and age. During winter, DHEA-S levels were maintained low and constant over lifetime. During the summer breeding season, a decline of DHEA-S levels occurred after the age of 3 years and accelerated after the age of 6 years. DHEA-S level was about 30-40% of its adult value with age over 6 years, a stepwise pattern most closely resembling to human pattern. In mouse lemur, DHEA-S met the criteria for a biomarker of aging. When correlated to other age-related changes, the results give the opportunity to consider the mouse lemur as a promising primate model to study aging processes.
Perret
Martine
M
UMR CNRS-MNHN 5176, Ecophysiology, Brunoy, France. martine.perret@wanadoo.fr
Aujard
Fabienne
F
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology; D001947:Breeding; D016565:Cheirogaleidae; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate