X-Message-Number: 15411
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2001 19:14:27 -0800 (PST)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: 34'th update on fly longevity experiments
This is the 34'th update on my fly longevity experiments. Prior to
Run #34 I had some hopes in particular that either antioxidant rich
Raspberry Cocktail juice, or Egret River's Antihypertensive tea might
prove to be beneficial. Alas it was not to be. In this run no supplement
increased longevity. On the contrary both Earl Grey black tea, and Stash
Wintermint herbal tea reduced survival.
On the plus side, in comparison to fly longevities reported in medical
journals, a 50 day average lifespan for my control flies is quite
respectible. The 1/4 tsp citric acid added to the 20 gm of 4-24 fly food
used in each bottle may account for this. There was no visible evidence of
pathogen growth in any bottle, despite there being no changes in the fly
food, once the experiment was started.
Run #34 Percent Survival on Day
supplement 14 19 22 25 29 32 35 38 41 46 50 54 59 63 69 73 78 82
__________________________________________________________________________
control 81 77 77 77 71 68 68 61 55 52 48 45 39 19 10 10 10 0
antihypertensive tea 83 79 79 79 79 75 67 54 38 33 21 4 4 0 - - - -
earl grey tea 69 58 50 46 42 42 35 27 27 19 19 8 8 4 4 4 0 -
glutathione 50 mg 74 65 65 62 56 56 53 47 41 32 21 15 9 6 0 - - -
health herb tea 83 78 78 65 56 56 56 52 48 43 43 30 26 17 9 4 0 -
raspberry cocktail j 82 76 76 76 76 71 71 71 71 53 47 35 6 6 6 6 6 6
raspberry leaf tea 85 65 60 60 55 55 55 50 40 40 35 35 25 5 0 0 - -
wintermint tea 75 56 38 38 38 31 31 19 13 13 6 6 6 6 0 - - -
In Freezer Run #6, I test cryoprotectant adjuncts, which increase
cellular survival at concentrations too low to reduce ice formation. I was
fascinated to learn that 0.15 M theonine offered the greatest protection
against freezing damage to cell membranes in one old report. (Biochimica
Et Biophysica Acta 241: 578-592 1971). This result has never to my
knowledge been replicated. Over 20 years later a much smaller amount (0.02
M) threonine was found to increase cell freezing survival by 26%.
(Cryobiology 29: 291-295 1992) I decided to give threonine a try, as well
as test glutamine, which is a commonly used adjunct.
Alas, the results were a bust. Considering high doses of the
antioxidant pine bark mixture pynogenol had earlier been quite beneficial,
it looks like further work will have to focus on antioxidants.
Freezer Run #6 Percent Survival After
supplement 0 30 60 minutes
___________________________________
control 100 65 18
glutamine 2 gm 100 72 11
threonine 3.4 gm 100 50 21
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