Environmental conditions can modulate the links among oxidative stress, age, and longevity. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marasco, Valeria; Stier, Antoine; Boner, Winnie; Griffiths, Kate; Heidinger, Britt; Monaghan, Pat
• Is Part Of: Mechanisms of ageing and development. Volume 164(2017)
• Page Start: 100
• Page End: 107
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: Age -- Longevity -- Environmental challenging conditions -- Glucocorticoids -- Corticosterone -- Oxidative stress -- Oxidative damage -- Antioxidant defences; Aging -- Periodicals; Developmental biology -- Periodicals; Aging -- Periodicals; Developmental Biology -- Periodicals; Vieillissement -- Périodiques; Biologie du développement -- Périodiques; Aging; Developmental biology; Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2017.04.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-6374

Abstract

Highlights: We exposed zebra finch females to challenging environmental conditions. We examined treatment effects on age-related changes in oxidative stress (OS). Levels of damage to DNA and proteins increased with chronological age. The treatment produced a higher age-related increase in the level of damage to DNA. We found treatment-specific links among OS and longevity. Abstract: Understanding the links between environmental conditions and longevity remains a major focus in biological research. We examined within-individual changes between early- and mid-adulthood in the circulating levels of four oxidative stress markers linked to ageing, using zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata ): a DNA damage product (8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine; 8-OHdG), protein carbonyls (PC), non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (OXY), and superoxide dismutase activity (SOD). We further examined whether such within-individual changes differed among birds living under control ( ad lib food) or more challenging environmental conditions (unpredictable food availability), having previously found that the latter increased corticosterone levels when food was absent but improved survival over a three year period. Our key findings were: ( i ) 8-OHdG and PC increased with age in both environments, with a higher increase in 8-OHdG in the challenging environment; ( ii ) SOD increased with age in the controls but not in the challenged birds, while the opposite was true for OXY; ( iii ) control birds with high levels of 8-OHdG died at a younger age, but this was not the case in challenged birds. Our data clearly show that while exposure to the potentially damaging effects of oxidative stress increases with age, environmental conditions can modulate the pace of this age–related change.