Association Between Lipid Peroxidation and Life-modifying Factors in Rotifers

Abstract

The rate of lipid peroxidation (LP) was measured in rotifers reared under conditions of continuous darkness (D:D), dietary restriction, vitamin E supplementation, or elevated temperatures. D:D, diet restriction, and vitamin E supplementation increased life span and caused a significant decline in LP; elevated temperatures decreased life span and increased LP. The addition of physiological levels of malonaldehyde, a product of LP, did not alter life span. The dietary uptake of Paramecia, the food source for rotifers, did not change under the conditions of D:D, vitamin E supplementation, and elevated temperatures. These results suggest that the LP process is inversely related to longevity in the rotifer and that it appears to be involved in the aging process.