Worm Breeder's Gazette 14(1): 105 (October 1, 1995)

These abstracts should not be cited in bibliographies. Material contained herein should be treated as personal communication and should be cited as such only with the consent of the author.

AN ATTEMPT T0 SLOW AGING IN C. elegans. I. THE EFFECT OF EXTRACT FROM YOUNG WORMS DURING WHOLE LIFE SPAN

Vladimir V. Bakaev

box 45, Novosibirsk 630107 USSR

C. elegans (1-2 days old) were collected from separate stock, frozen and
after 12 hours or more time thawed, filtrated and mixed with S medium
containing E. coli (1:1), this mixture was used as a medium for worms in
experimental group. The medium for control group was prepared by mixing S
medium containing E. coli with S medium without E. coli (1:1).

Three adult animals (3-5 days old) were kept in microtitre wells
containing 0,75 ml of liquid medium (with E. coli and with or without
young worms extract) during 12 hours, then they were discarded and newborn
larvae were transferred in next wells every day (one worm in one well).
Number of progeny was calculated every day too. This experiment was
carried out in temperature 21 C and in the darkness.
The obtained results are presented in the following table.

                               Control group            Experimental group
                                  n = 12         P           n = 11
                               Mean +/- S.D.             Mean +/- S.D.

Longevity:
mean                          24,5 +/- 1,9     <0,001     13,6 +/- 1,5
maximal                             36                         21
minimal                             13                          8

Period:
prereproductive               3,9 +/- 0,08      <0,05      4,4 +/- 0,2
reproductive                  9,9 +/- 0,09      <0,01      6,4 +/- 1,2
postreproductive              9,9 +/- 1,8      <0,001      2,8 +/- 0,7

Fecundity:
mean                        123,9 +/- 12,7     <O,001     33,6 +/- 7,6
maximal                            219                         69
minimal                             13                          o

Conclusion: if the extract from young worms was applied to C. elegans
during whole life span then it was able to decrease longevity of
nematodes, by other words such an extract appeared as toxic, in indicated
above conditions. This extract decreased the fecundity too.
Acknowledgment: The author wishes to express his thanks to CGC for
providing C. elegans (Bristol, N2) and E. coli OP 50.