Worm Breeder's Gazette 14(3): 17 (June 1, 1996)
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.
box 45, Novosibirsk, 630107,USSR
It is well known that the royal jelly markedly prolongs the life
span of honey bees. This substance is recommended by physicians for
increasing of life quality. In this experiment royal jelly extract was
used in the form of "Apilac" in dilutions 0,02% and 0,002%. 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 royal jelly extract) during 6 hours, then they were
discarded and newborn larvae were transferred in next wells every day (one
worm in one well). Beginning from third day in the whole experiment was
used the medium without this royal jelly extract. A number of progeny was
calculated every day. This investigation was carried out in temperature
+21C and in the darkness. The obtained results are presented in the
following table.
Control group Experimental Experimental
group (0,02%) group (0,002%)
n = 11 n = 11 n = 12
Mean +/- S.D. Mean +/- S.D. Mean +/- S.D
Longevity (days):
mean 19,4 +/- 1,2 18,0 +/- 1,7 21,8 +/- 1,2
maximal 25 27 26
minimal 10 9 14
Periods (days):
prereproductive 2 2 2
reproductive 6,5 +/- 0,5 7,4 +/- 0,6 5,9 +/- 0,4
postreproductive 10,6 +/- 1,2 8,5 +/- 1,6 14,0 +/- 1,3
Fecundity:
mean 158,8 +/- 6,6 93,9 +/- 9,9 128,9 +/- 3,4
maximal 197 179 153
minimal 115 60 111
Conclusion: If the extract from royal jelly was applied to C. elegans
during prereproductive period of their life span, in above described
conditions, it was not able to increase significantly their longevity as
well as fecundity.
Acknowledgment: The author wishes to express his thanks to CGC for
providing C. elegans (Bristol, N2) and E. coli OP50.