LIFESPAN, OXYGEN CONSUMPTION AND HYDROXYL RADICAL SCAVENGING CAPACITY OF TWO STRAINS OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Two strains of Drosophila melanogaster were compared for lifespan, metabolic rate, and ability to scavenge in vitro generated hydroxyl radicals. The mean Iifespan and oxygen consumption data were: Samarkand, 68.7 _+ 21.4 days and 44.4 _+ 2.6~1 02-mg'le24hrs'l; Swedish C, 43.7 +_ 11.5 days and 54.4_+ 4.6/~1 02.mg'l-24hrs 1. In an experiment in which hydroxyl radicals were formed in vitro and their reaction products with 2-deoxy-D-ribose measured, we found that tissue homogenates of Samarkand flies exhibited a 39% inhibition of radical production compared to 10% by the Swedish C strain. These data are in agreement with the free radical theory of aging and suggest that both the respiration rate (0= consumption) and the efficiency of Drosophila tissues to scavenge hydroxyl radicals are important determinants of lifespan in this insect.