Abstract
Age-related deterioration of physiological functions is one of the most evident manifestations of ageing. In wild populations of some species, including murid rodents, lifespans are substantially modified by environmental signals that affect an individual’s response to such challenges as unfavourable climatic conditions, parasitic load etc. But the real impact of ageing on natural mortality of most species remains obscure. To clarify how age affects the responsiveness of organisms to environmental challenges, we performed longitudinal laboratory observations of wild-derived northern red-backed voles (Myodes rutilus). We fixed individual longevity and measured metabolic indexes (basal and maximal metabolic rates), ability to maintain body temperature under acute cooling, plasma corticosterone, indexes of acquired and innate immunity in the same individuals of 3–4, 6–7 and 9–10 months old. The maximum estimated lifespan was about 2 years 8 months, which is considerably older than in nature, but less than 30% of individuals passed the one-year milestone. Regardless of the intense mortality, in the first year of life, animals did not demonstrate any age-related deterioration in physiological functions, except leucocyte number. No consistency in any individual physiological index was found. As the individual longevity of red-backed voles varied between years of captivity, we suggest that the welfare and lifespan of wild animals in captivity may be affected by the environmental conditions in the period preceding removal of the animal from the wild.
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Acknowledgements
The study was supported by the Federal Program of Fundamental Scientific Studies 2013–2020 (VI.51.1.8) AAAA-A16-116121410118-7 and by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, grants 13-04-01045, 16-04-00888 and 19-04-00929.
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Keeping conditions were adjusted to the biology of the species to minimise the harmful and stressful effects of caging. Climatic regime in laboratory room was comfortable for the animals; conventional diet was balanced and included all the nutrients essential for the normal grows and development. The room was periodically sterilised by quartz lamp. We did not disturb the animals without the reason. If deceased, individuals were carefully removed from the cages. All manipulations with the animals were performed with care and according to local and national legal requirements. The Experimental protocol conforms to the provisions of the Declaration of Helsinki.
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Novikov, E.A., Kondratyuk, E.Y. & Polikarpov, I.A. Age-related differences in physiology and survival of northern red-backed voles (Myodes rutilus) in captivity. Biogerontology 21, 133–142 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-019-09847-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-019-09847-w