>From The Worm Breeder's Gazette, 1995, v. 14, No. 1, p. 106.
AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW AGING IN C. elegans. 2.THE EFFECT OF
EXTRACT FROM YOUNG WORMS DURING REPRODUCTIVE AND POST-
REPRODUCTIVE PERIODS
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, fi-
ltrated and mixed with S medium containing E. coli (1:1),
this mixture was used as a medium for worms in experimen-
tal 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 micro-
titre wells containing 0,75 ml of liquid medium (with E. co-
li and with or without young worms extract) during 12 ho-
urs, then they were discarded and newborn larvae were
transferred in next wells every day (one worm in one well).
The medium with extract from young worms was used in expe-
rimental group beginning from third day, that is in repro-
ductive and postreproductive periods of nematode life span.
Number of progeny was calculated every day. This investiga-
tion was carried out in temperature +21oC and in the dark-
ness. The obtained results are presented in the following
table.
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Control group Experimental group
n = 11 P n = 10
Mean +/- S.E. Mean +/- S.E.
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Longevity:
mean 19,2 +/- 1,9 >0,05 24,2 +/- 2,4
maximal 30 35
minimal 11 11
Period:
prereproductive 3,4 +/- 0,3 >0,05 2,9 +/- 0,1
reproductive 10,2 +/- 0,9 <0,05 14,0 +/- 1,3
postreproductive 4,8 +/- 1,2 >0,05 6,9 +/- 1,7
Fecundity:
mean 146,8 +/-10,3 <0,02 199,4 +/-16,2
maximal 182 330
minimal 75 113
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Conclusion: If the extract from young worms was applied to
C. elegans during reproductive and postreproductive period
of their life span, then in was able to increase their me-
an fecundity (by 35,8 per cent) as well as length of repro-
ductive period (by 37,3 per cent). The mean longevity in ex-
perimental group was slightly increased too (but not signi-
ficantly).
Acknowledgment: The author wishes to express his thanks to
CGC for providing C. elegans (Bristol, N2) and E. coli OP50.
