Effects of static magnetic fields on the development and aging of Caenorhabditis elegans.
The current study investigated the possible effects of static magnetic fields (SMFs) on the developmental and aging processes of Caenorhabditis elegans. Nematodes were grown in the presence of SMFs of strengths varying from 0 to 200 mT. The rate of development and the lifespan were recorded. Treatment with a 200 mT SMF reduced the development time from the L2 to the L3 stage by 20%, from L3 to L4 by 23%, and from L4 to young adult by 31%. After SMF treatment, the average lifespan was reduced from 31 days to 24 days for wild-type nematodes. The up-regulation of clk-1, lim-7, daf-2, unc-3 and age-1 after SMF treatment was verified by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Apparently, induction of gene expression is selective and dose dependent. The total developmental time was significantly reduced for the lin-4, lin-14, lin-41 and lim-7 mutants, but not for the let-7, clk-1, unc-3 and age-1 mutants. Lifespan analyses revealed that the let-7, unc-3 and age-1 mutants were not affected by SMF treatment. Here we show that SMFs accelerate nematode development and shorten nematode lifespan through pathways associated with let-7, clk-1, unc-3 and age-1.
Section of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh Shih Road, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
Yao-Ching
YC
Hung
Jia-Huey
JH
Lee
Huang-Meng
HM
Chen
Guewha Steven
GS
Huang
D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017238:Genes, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000235:genetics; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics; D008280:Magnetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors