Article Abstract:
Spermatogenesis or sperm production shortens the lifespans of male Caenorhabditis elegans nematode worms by more than 25%. Research comparing the longevity of hermaphroditic and male worms found that sex curtailed male lifetimes only. The additional finding that mutant males with abnormally low sperm production outlive normal males shows that spermatogenesis rather than the physical exertion of mating curtails lifespans. These conclusions will force a reconsideration of the long-standing view that oocyte production is the principal limit on longevity.
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Article Abstract:
Sensory perception seems to regulate the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. It has been established that the ageing process in this animal is quite plastic, and can be influenced by the environment and the reproductive system. Furthermore, sensory perception may have an impact on reproductive signalling. It was found that mutations that prompt defects in sensory cilia or their support cells, or in sensory signal transduction, lead to a longer lifespan.
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Article Abstract:
The reproductive system of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans can control longevity by way of an insulin or insulin-like growth-factor (IGF-1) signalling pathway, according to Hsin and Kenyon. They discovered that DAF-16 and DAF-12 activities are needed for germline ablation to extend life, and they propose that signals from the normal somatic gonad inhibit DAF-2 receptor activity, and promote longevity.
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