EFFECT OF VITAMIN-E ON LIFE-SPAN, MALONDIALDEHYDE CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES IN AGING ZAPRIONUS PARAVITTIGER

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.