longevity in C. elegans 7

[daemon at net.bio.net]

>From The Worm Breeder's Gazette, 1996, v. 14, No. 3, p. 17.

AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW AGING IN  C.  elegans.  4.THE  EFFECT  OF
   EXTRACT FROM ROYAL JELLY DURING PREREPRODUCTIVE PERIOD
   Vladimir V.  Bakaev, 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
+21=A6C  and  in  the  darkness.  The  obtained  results   are
presented in the following table.

=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=
=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=
=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4
                 Control group   Experimental   Experimental
                                group (0,02%)  group (0,002%)
                     n =3D 11        n =3D 11          n =3D 12
                  Mean+/-S.D.   Mean+/-S.D.     Mean+/-S.D
=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=
=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=
=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4
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

=46ecundity:
mean             151,8+/-6,6     93,9+/-9,9     128,9+/-3,4
maximal               197            179             153
minimal               115             60             111
=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=
=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=
=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4=C4

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.