ABSTRACT
From the age of 6 months until their natural deaths, female CBA mice were given melatonin with their drinking water (20 mg/l) for 5 consecutive days every month. Intact mice served as controls. The results of this study show that the consumption of melatonin did not significantly influence food consumption, but it did increase the body weight of older mice; it did not influence physical strength or the presence of fatigue; it decreased locomotor activity and body temperature; it inhibited free radical processes in serum, brain, and liver; it slowed down the age-related switching-off of estrous function; and it increased life span. However, we also found that treatment with the used dose of melatonin increased spontaneous tumor incidence in mice. For this reason, we concluded that it would be premature to recommend melatonin as a geroprotector for long-term use.
Subject(s)
Aging/physiology , Longevity/drug effects , Melatonin/physiology , Neoplasms/chemically induced , Aging/drug effects , Animals , Body Weight/drug effects , Brain/metabolism , Estrus/drug effects , Female , Free Radicals/blood , Free Radicals/metabolism , Incidence , Liver/metabolism , Locomotion/drug effects , Melatonin/adverse effects , Melatonin/pharmacology , Mice , Mice, Inbred CBA , Models, TheoreticalABSTRACT
Subcutaneous administration of vilon (Lys-Glu) to female CBA mice starting from the 6th month of life increased physical activity and endurance, decreased body temperature, prolonged the lifespan, and prevented the development of spontaneous neoplasms. Vilon had no effect on age-related changes of estrous function and free radical processes. Long-term administration of vilon caused no unfavourable effects on animal development. The obtained results show safety of chronic vilon administration and allow to use this preparation for geroprotection and prophylaxis of age pathology.
