Effect of epitalon on the lifespan increase in Drosophila melanogaster

Mech Ageing Dev. 2000 Dec 1;120(1-3):141-9. doi: 10.1016/s0047-6374(00)00217-7.

Abstract

The geroprotector activity of epitalon, a synthetic tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, was studied on the Drosophila melanogaster wild strain Canton-S. The substance was added to the culture medium only at the developmental stage (from egg to larva). Epitalon significantly increased the lifespan (LS) of imagoes by 11-16% when applied at unprecedented low concentrations-from 0.001 x 10(-6) to 5 x 10(-6) wt.% of culture medium for males and from 0.01 x 10(-6) to 0.1 x 10(-6) wt.% of culture medium for females. The increase in LS did not depend on the substance dose. Effective concentrations of epitalon were 16,000-80,000,000 times lower than those of melatonin. The possible mechanisms of the antioxidant and regulatory effects of epitalon are discussed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drosophila melanogaster / drug effects*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / growth & development
  • Female
  • Longevity / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Oligopeptides / administration & dosage
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Sex Characteristics

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Oligopeptides
  • alanyl-glutamyl-aspartyl-glycine