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Effect of copper on lifespan and lipid peroxidation in rotifers

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Abstract

Exposure of the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli to copper sulfate at a concentration of 60 μg/L throughout its life produced a slight but significant (9%) decrease in lifespan, as compared to untreated control rotifers. Lipid peroxidation levels, as measured by change in absorbency of malondealdehyde, increased with age in both control and copper treated rotifers. Regression analysis showed that lipid paroxidation reached significantly higher levels in copper treated as compared to control animals. We conclude that copper excess enhances lipid peroxidation by the generation of free radicals, shortening the lifespan in a manner predicted by the free radical theory of aging. Copper sulfate at higher concentrations (90 μg/L and 180 μg/L) was toxic to the rotifers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1M8

    Hildegard E. Enesco & Alexandra Wolanskyj

  2. Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1

    Masaaki Sawada

Authors
  1. Hildegard E. Enesco
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  2. Alexandra Wolanskyj
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  3. Masaaki Sawada
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Enesco, H.E., Wolanskyj, A. & Sawada, M. Effect of copper on lifespan and lipid peroxidation in rotifers. AGE 12, 19–23 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02432514

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