R. Kakkar et al., EFFECT OF VITAMIN-E ON LIFE-SPAN, MALONDIALDEHYDE CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES IN AGING ZAPRIONUS PARAVITTIGER, Gerontology, 42(6), 1996, pp. 312-321
Zaprionus paravittiger fed with vitamin E supplemented diet (1, 5 and
10 mu g/ml) showed an increase in median and maximum life spans. Furth
er increase in concentration accelerated the mortality rate. Females e
xhibited longer life span as compared to males. Malondialdehyde (MDA)
content and antioxidant enzymes (catalase and peroxidase) were measure
d in control and optimum concentration of vitamin E (5 mu g/ml)-fed fl
ies at various age intervals. MDA content showed an increase with age
in control and vitamin E-fed group whereas catalase and proxidase acti
vities showed a decrease with age. The females exhibited lower MDA con
tent and higher activities of catalase and peroxidase as compared to m
ales in control and vitamin E group. Vitamin E feeding caused a signif
icant decrease in MDA and increase in catalase and peroxidase activiti
es. These findings suggest that vitamin E has dose-dependent and sex-s
pecific influence on longevity of Z. paravittiger and support the view
that longevity and activity of antioxidant enzymes are positively lin
ked.