title: Measurement of Survival Time in Brachionus Rotifers: Synchronization of Maternal Conditions.
abstract: Rotifers are microscopic cosmopolitan zooplankton used as models in ecotoxicological and aging studies due to their several advantages such as short lifespan, ease of culture, and parthenogenesis that enables clonal culture. However, caution is required when measuring their survival time as it is affected by maternal age and maternal feeding conditions. Here we provide a protocol for powerful and reproducible measurement of the survival time in Brachionus rotifers following a careful synchronization of culture conditions over several generations. Empirically, poor synchronization results in early mortality and a gradual decrease in survival rate, thus resulting in weak statistical power. Indeed, under such conditions, calorie restriction (CR) failed to significantly extend the lifespan of B. plicatilis although CR-induced longevity has been demonstrated with well-synchronized rotifer samples in past and present studies. This protocol is probably useful for other invertebrate models, including the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, because maternal age effects have also been reported in these species.
authors: Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo; School of Arts and Sciences, University of Houston-Victoria; gkaneko1@icloud.com.
authors: Gen
authors: G
authors: Kaneko
authors: School of Marine Biosciences, Department of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University.
authors: Tatsuki
authors: T
authors: Yoshinaga
authors: Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory.
authors: Kristin E
authors: KE
authors: Gribble
authors: Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory.
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Welch
authors: Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo.
authors: Hideki
authors: H
authors: Ushio
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D005260:Female; D008136:Longevity; D012403:Rotifera / Q000502:physiology*