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RESEARCH |
C Conover, Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States
M Mason, Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States
J Levine, Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States
C Novak, Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States
Correspondence: Cheryl Conover, Email: conover.cheryl{at}mayo.edu
Abstract
Mice born with deletion of the gene for pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), a model of reduced local insulin-like growth factor activity, live approximately 30% longer than their wild-type littermates. In this study we investigated metabolic consequences of PAPP-A gene deletion and possible relationship to lifespan extension. Specifically, we determined whether 18-month-old PAPP-A knock-out (KO) mice compared to their wild-type littermates have reduced energy expenditure and/or altered glucose-insulin sensitivity. Food intake, and total energy expenditure and resting energy expenditure as measured by calorimetry, were not different between PAPP-A KO and WT mice when subjected to analysis of covariance with body weight as the covariate. However, there was an increase in spontaneous physical activity in PAPP-A KO mice. Both WT and PAPP-A KO mice exhibited mild insulin resistance with age, as assessed by fasting glucose/insulin ratios. Oral glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were not significantly different between the two groups of mice, although there appeared to be a decrease in the average size of the pancreatic islets in PAPP-A KO mice. Thus, neither reduced "rate of living" nor altered glucose-insulin homeostasis can be considered key determinants of the enhanced longevity of PAPP-A KO mice. These findings are discussed in the context of those from other long-lived mouse models.
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A. N. Vallejo, J. J. Michel, L. K. Bale, B. H. Lemster, L. Borghesi, and C. A. Conover Resistance to age-dependent thymic atrophy in long-lived mice that are deficient in pregnancy-associated plasma protein A PNAS, July 7, 2009; 106(27): 11252 - 11257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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