Post-dauer life span of Caenorhabditis elegans dauer larvae can be modified by X-irradiation.
The time spent as a dauer larva does not affect adult life span in Caenorhabditis elegans, as if aging is suspended in this quiescent developmental stage. We now report that modest doses X-irradiation of dauer larvae increased their post-dauer longevity. Post-irradiation incubation of young dauer larvae did not modify this beneficial effect of radiation. Conversely, holding dauer larvae prior to irradiation rendered them refractory to this X-radiation-induced response. We present a model to explain these results. These experiments demonstrate that dauer larvae provide an excellent opportunity to study mechanisms by which X irradiation can extend life span.
Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
Akira
A
Onodera
Sumino
S
Yanase
Takamasa
T
Ishii
Kayo
K
Yasuda
Masaki
M
Miyazawa
Philip S
PS
Hartman
Naoaki
N
Ishii
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011829:Radiation Dosage