Abstract
This commentary concerns our recent report that prepubertal castration rescued the shorter lifespan of males, using the first mouse line that robustly shows the same shorter longevity with a similar age-variable mortality disadvantage as human males. This model provides a unique opportunity for research to uncover the basis for this clinically important sex difference in aging. Researchers can now identify the hormones involved, the duration of exposure required, and, most important, the cellular and molecular targets, with the ultimate goal of developing therapeutic interventions to enhance health and reduce mortality without castration-compromising reproductive function.
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Acknowledgements
Dr. Strong is the recipient of a Senior Research Career Scientist award (# IK6 BX006289) from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This work was supported by the Center for Testing Potential Anti-Aging Interventions (5U01AG022307), the Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in Basic Biology of Aging (5P30AG013319), and NIH 5T32AG021890-15 and the Glenn Foundation fellowship to CJC.
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Conceptualization: NJ, CJC, JN. Funding acquisition: RS, JN. Writing: NJ, CJC, RS, JN.
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Jiang, N., Cheng, C.J., Strong, R. et al. Castration reduces mortality and increases resilience in male mice: what is next?. GeroScience 46, 2787–2790 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-023-00973-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-023-00973-5