GENDER-SPECIFIC ALTERATIONS IN ANTIOXIDANT STATUS OF AGING ZAPRIONUS PARAVITTIGER FED ON PROPYL GALLATE

Zaprionus paravittiger fed on propyl gallate (PC) supplemented diet (2 .5, 25 and 250 mu g/ml) showed an increase in life span. Further incre ase in concentration (2500, 5000 and 7500 mu g/ml) accelerated the mor tality rate. Females exhibited longer life span as compared to males. Antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase and glutathione reductase) w ere measured in control and optimum concentration of PG (25 mu g/ml) f ed flies at various age intervals. Antioxidant enzyme activities showe d an increase during reproductive phase. Catalase and glutathione redu ctase activities decreased with age however no significant change was observed in peroxidase activity. The females exhibited higher enzyme a ctivities as compared to males in control and PG fed group at most of the age intervals. PG feeding caused a significant increase in catalas e and glutathione reductase activities in both the sexes. These findin gs suggest the PG has dose dependent and sex specific influence on lon gevity of Z. paravittiger and support the view that longevity and acti vity of antioxidant enzymes are positively linked.