Sex differences in oxidative stress resistance in relation to longevity in Drosophila melanogaster

Niveditha, S. and Deepashree, S. and Ramesh, S. R. and Shivanandappa, T. (2017) Sex differences in oxidative stress resistance in relation to longevity in Drosophila melanogaster. Journal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology, 187 (7). pp. 899-909. ISSN 1432-136X

Text Sex differences in oxidative stress resistance in relation.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Gender differences in lifespan and aging are known across species. Sex differences in longevity within a species can be useful to understand sex-specific aging. Drosophila melanogaster is a good model to study the problem of sex differences in longevity since females are longer lived than males. There is evidence that stress resistance influences longevity. The objective of this study was to investigate if there is a relationship between sex differences in longevity and oxidative stress resistance in D. melanogaster. We observed a progressive age-dependent decrease in the activity of SOD and catalase, major antioxidant enzymes involved in defense mechanisms against oxidative stress in parallel to the increased ROS levels over time. Longer-lived females showed lower ROS levels and higher antioxidant enzymes than males as a function of age. Using ethanol as a stressor, we have shown differential susceptibility of the sexes to ethanol wherein females exhibited higher resistance to ethanol-induced mortality and locomotor behavior compared to males. Our results show strong correlation between sex differences in oxidative stress resistance, antioxidant defenses and longevity. The study suggests that higher antioxidant defenses in females may confer resistance to oxidative stress, which could be a factor that influences sex-specific aging in D. melanogaster.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Longevity, Ethanol, Aging, Free radicals, Antioxidant enzymes
Subjects:	B Life Science > Sericulture
Divisions:	Department of > Zoology
Depositing User:	C Swapna Library Assistant
Date Deposited:	30 May 2019 10:27
Last Modified:	30 May 2019 10:27
URI:	http://eprints.uni-mysore.ac.in/id/eprint/698

Actions (login required)

View Item