Increased longevity, reduced fecundity, and delayed development in fruitfly (Zaprionus paravittiger) fed on butylated hydroxy anisole

Low doses of radiation can enhance insect lifespans

This paper assesses the capacity of ionizing radiation to extend the lifespans of experimental insect models based on the peer-reviewed literature. Ionizing radiation biphasically affects the lifespans of adult males and females for a broad range of insect models with high doses reducing lifespan whereas lower doses can enhance lifespan, typically in the 20-60 % range. The average adult insect lifespan can be increased when ionizing radiation exposure is administered during early developmental stages or during the adult stage. The effective dose inducing the average adult insect lifespan enhancement may vary considerably depending upon which life stage is exposed. Recent findings have identified specific genes affecting anti-oxidant defenses, DNA repair, apoptosis and heat shock proteins as well as several cell signaling pathways that mediate the longevity enhancing hormetic response.

Self-harm caused by an insect's innate immunity

It has been a long-held assumption that the innate immune system of insects causes self-harm when used to combat an immune insult. We show empirically that this assumption is correct. Invertebrate innate immunity relies heavily on effector systems which, on activation, produce cytotoxins that kill pathogens. Reliance on these robust, fast-acting, generic killing mechanisms ensures a potent and rapid response to pathogen invasion, but has the potential disadvantage of causing self-damage. We show that the innate immune response against an immune insult produces measurable phenotypic and functional damage to self-tissue in the beetle Tenebrio molitor. This type of self-harm (autoreactivity) and the life-history implications that arise from it are important to understand evolutionary phenomena such as the dynamics between hosts and parasites as well as the nature of immune system costs.

The adversities of aging

The aging process is evolutionarily conserved and subject to quantitative modification by both genetic and environmental factors. Fundamental mechanisms of aging result in progressive deficits in the function of cells and organs, often leading to diseases that ultimately kill the organism such as cancers, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders. Oxidative stress and damage to all of the major classes of molecules in cells are involved in aging and age-related diseases. The widely pursued approach of targeting disease-specific processes to develop therapeutic interventions has not had a major impact on healthspan. A more productive approach would be to target the fundamental mechanisms of aging throughout adult life so as to extend healthspan. Caloric restriction and regular exercise are two such approaches.

Oxidative damage and age-related functional declines

Most organisms experience progressive declines in physiological function as they age. Since this senescence of function is thought to underlie the decrease in quality of life in addition to the increase in susceptibility to disease and death associated with aging, identifying the mechanisms involved would be highly beneficial. One of the leading mechanistic theories for aging is the oxidative damage hypothesis. A number of studies in a variety of species support a strong link between oxidative damage and life span determination. The role of oxidative damage in functional senescence has also been investigated, albeit not as comprehensively. Here, we review these investigations. Several studies show that the age-related loss of a number of functions is associated with an accrual of oxidative damage in the tissues mediating those functions. Additionally, treatments that increase the accumulation of oxidative damage with age frequently exacerbate functional losses. Moreover, treatments that reduce the accumulation of oxidative damage often attenuate or delay the loss of function associated with aging. These data provide the foundation for a link between oxidative damage and functional senescence, thereby supporting the oxidative damage hypothesis of aging within the context of age-related functional decline.

Effects of butylated hydroxyanisole on the development and functions of reproductive system in rats

Butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA) is a widely used antioxidant for long preservation of food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Although BHA is generally recognized as safe, it is classified as a suspected endocrine-disrupting compound. We investigated the effects of BHA on reproductive function and development by the treatment of mature male and female SD rats (F0) through pre-gestation, gestation and lactation period and of their offspring (F1) until 13 weeks old via gavage with BHA 0 (corn oil, vehicle control), 10, 100 and 500 mg/kg bw/day. Organ weights of liver, adrenal gland and thyroid gland of F0 rats were increased by BHA 500 mg/kg but those of spleen and ventral prostate were decreased without significant difference in terminal body weight. Reduced serum testosterone and thyroxine (T4) were observed with dose-dependent manner in F0 male rats. Mating rate was decreased and cohabitation duration for conception was longer without differences in the number, motility and morphology of sperm by BHA 500 mg/kg. Body weight of F1 offspring was significantly decreased with change of relative weight of liver and brain by BHA 500 mg/kg at PND21. Sexual maturation indicated by vaginal opening and preputial separation was delayed by BHA 500 mg/kg. The weights of liver and adrenal gland were increased while those of spleen, vagina, testes and ventral prostate were decreased in F1 rats exposed to BHA 100 or 500 mg/kg for 13 weeks. Also, BHA 500 mg/kg reduced the velocity of sperm motion and number with smaller-sized sperm head in F1 male rats and slightly shortened estrous cycle length with higher frequency of estrus and lower frequency of diestrus stages in F1 female rats. Lower serum T4 and testosterone contents with higher serum cholesterol levels were also observed by BHA 500 mg/kg. Increased follicular cell height, and exfoliated and vacuolated follicular epithelial cells were observed in thyroids of F1 female and males rats exposed to BHA 500 mg/kg. This study elucidates that high dose of BHA induce weak dysfunction and underdevelopment of reproductive system of male and female rats with the change of T4 and testosterone levels, sex organ weights and sexual maturation and histological lesions of thyroid gland.

BHA diet enhances the survival of mice exposed to phosgene: the effect of BHA on glutathione levels in the lung

Phosgene-induced pulmonary edema formation has been under investigation for many years. One mechanism of protection may involve the use of antioxidants. Previously, it has been shown that butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) treatment can enhance glutathione (GSH) levels. The present study focused on dietary supplementation in mice using BHA, a phenolic compound used in food preservation. Three groups of male CD-1 mice were studied: group 1, control animals fed with Purina rodent chow 5002; group 2, fed 0.75% BHA (w/w) in 5002; and group 3, fed 1.5% BHA (w/w) in 5002. Mice were fed for 22 days. On day 23 mice were exposed to 32 mg/m(3) phosgene for 20 min in a whole-body exposure chamber. Survival rate (SR) and odds ratio (OR) were determined at 12 and 24 h. In mice that died within 12 h, the lungs were removed immediately and lung wet weights (WW), dry weights (DW), lung wet weight/body weight ratio (LWW/BW), and lung tissue total glutathione (GSH) were assessed. For 12-h data, 6 mice from the 1.5% BHA group were sacrificed for lung tissue measurements. The SR for 0.75% BHA was 80% at 12 h and 55% at 24 h, compared with 36% and 23%, respectively, for controls. For 1.5% BHA, the 12- and 24-h SR were 100% and 92%, respectively. Odds ratios of 6.9 for 0.75% BHA and 46.6 for 1.5% BHA at 12 h and 4.0 and 42 for 0. 75% and 1.5% BHA, respectively, at 24 h were significantly (chi2) higher than control diet phosgene-exposed mice. Dietary pretreatment with 0.75% and 1.5% BHA significantly enhanced lung tissue GSH, 1.8-fold (p < or =.01) and 5.8-fold (p < or =.01), respectively, compared with phosgene-exposed control diet. Both BHA-supplemented diets significantly reduced WW. Only 1.5% BHA reduced DW, a measure of lung hyperaggregation. and LWW/BW compared with control diet. In air-exposed controls, BHA induced a dose-responsive decrease in WW, DW, LWW/BW ratio, and GSH. In conclusion, dietary pretreatment with BHA at the two dose levels reduced lung edema and lethality by enhancing lung tissue GSH in mice exposed to phosgene.