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D-Galactose-caused life shortening in Drosophila melanogaster and Musca domestica is associated with oxidative stress

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Abstract

D-Galactose causes aging acceleration in different animal models but the mechanism is unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effects of D-galactose on lifespan and oxidative stress biomarkers in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and housefly (Musca domestica). D-Galactose was added to drinking water (20 mg/ml) for housefly and to culture medium (6.5%) for fruit fly from 24 h after emergence. Oxidative stress was estimated by measuring the activity of Cu–Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the levels of lipid peroxidation products, namely malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipofuscin in housefly brain (male) and in fruit fly (male and female). D-Galactose caused a significant decrease in mean lifespan (by 12.6% of male and 15.9% of female) and maximum lifespan (by 12.9% of male and 17.1% of female) in fruit fly, and also a significant decrease in mean lifespan (by 27.1% of male, 19.8% of female) and maximum lifespan (by 27.1% of male, 21.9% of female) in housefly. MDA and lipofuscin increased with age in fruit fly and in housefly brains while change of the SOD activity showed a biphasic shape with age. D-Galactose caused a significant increase in MDA and lipofuscin and decrease in SOD activity in the age-matched fruit flies and houseflies. These data indicate that D-galactose shortens the lifespan of the two different fly species and that the life shortening effect is associated with an increase in oxidative stress.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, 5 Dongdan Santiao, China

    Xu Cui & Pingping Zuo

  2. Chinese PLA General Hospital, Institute of Gerontology, 28 Fuxing Road, China

    Xu Cui, Luning Wang, Zhitao Han, Zhengyu Fang & Wenbin Li

  3. Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, 319 Yueyang Road, China

    Jiankang Liu

  4. Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, CA, USA

    Jiankang Liu & Jiankang Liu

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  1. Xu Cui
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Cui, X., Wang, L., Zuo, P. et al. D-Galactose-caused life shortening in Drosophila melanogaster and Musca domestica is associated with oxidative stress. Biogerontology 5, 317–325 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-004-2570-3

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