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Lead accumulation during aging of Drosophila and effect of dietary lead on life span

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Abstract

Lead accumulated in Drosophila melanogaster during both the developmental and adult stages. Lead in adult flies increased by 173% between 0 and 50 days of age when they were reared and maintained on corn meal medium. The lead content of the flies ranged from 0.075 to 0.444 ppm on a dry weight basis. Excess dietary lead in the form of highly soluble lead acetate reduced the median life span by 19.3% when present at a concentration of 2070 ppm in the food for the duration of the adult life span. Lower concentrations of dietary lead failed to significantly change the life span. We conclude that normal dietary lead is not a factor in the aging of Drosophila and that dietary lead is probably not a general cause of senescence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, Utica, New York, 13501

    Harold R. Massie, Valerie R. Aiello & Sandra J. P. Whitney

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  1. Harold R. Massie
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  2. Valerie R. Aiello
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  3. Sandra J. P. Whitney
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Massie, H.R., Aiello, V.R. & Whitney, S.J.P. Lead accumulation during aging of Drosophila and effect of dietary lead on life span. AGE 15, 47–49 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02435023

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