Effect of epitalon on the lifespan increase in Drosophila melanogaster

The geroprotector activity of epitalon, a synthetic tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-As p-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 i n LS did not depend on the substance dose. Effective concentrations of epit alon were 16 000-80 000 000 times lower than those of melatonin. The possib le mechanisms of the antioxidant and regulatory effects of epitalon are dis cussed. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.