>From The Worm Breeder's Gazette, 1995, v. 14, No. 1, p. 102.
THE EFFECT OF INTERMITTENT TEMPERATURE ON LONGEVITY
AND FECUNDITY OF C. ELEGANS
Vladimir V. Bakaev, box 45, Novosibirsk, 630107, USSR
It is well known that low temperatures can prolong longevity
of different animals. In this study the experimental worms
were mantained in liquid medium with E. coli in +21oC during
the day (8 - 12 hrs) and in +4oC during the night, in dark-
ness. One control group was mantained in +21oC and other
control group was mantained in +4oC constantly. The obtained
results are presented in the following table.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Control group Experimental Control group
(+21oC) group (+4oC)
Mean+/-S.D. Mean+/-S.D. Mean+/-S.D.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Mean longe- 19,86+/-1,63 22,96+/-1,57 38,3+/-2,72
vity (days) (n = 22) (n = 24) (n = 22)
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Maximal lon-
gevity (days) 34 35 50
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Minimal lon-
gevity (days) 6 10 5
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Mean 76,91+/-4,54 54,33+/-3,32 4,54+/-2,07
fecundity (n = 22) (n = 24) (n = 22)
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Maximal 118 95 46
fecundity
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Minimal
fecundity 33 25 0
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
It can be concluded that such intermittent temperature is not
able to prolong the life-span of C. elegans significantly, in
comparison with constant cold, as well as fecundity.
Acknowledgment: The author wishes to express his thanks to
CGC for providing C. elegans (wild line) and E. coli OP50.
