Developmental Origins of Phenotypic Characteristics that Predict Longevity
Description: PROJECT NARRATIVE There is considerable evidence that growth hormone (GH) and other hormones that stimulate growth are also importantly involved in the control of aging and longevity. Our recent findings indicate that the actions of GH early in life (starting before weaning and continuing to the age of puberty) influence life expectancy. In the proposed studies we will use normal as well as long- lived mutant mice, and therapy with GH or with a combination of hormones to elucidate this novel and somewhat unexpected effect. We will determine at which stages of early postnatal life hormone levels influence metabolic characteristics that differ in normal and long-lived mice and thus may predict longevity. We will also determine which of these hormone-induced changes persist after hormone treatment is stopped. Because nutrition has major effects on the level of various hormones, understanding the relationships between early hormone action and aging is important for discovering how aging can be postponed and life expectancy improved by judicious modifications of the diet during rapid pre-pubertal growth.
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: R21
Start date: 2011-04-01
End date: 2014-03-31
Investigator: ANDRZEJ BARTKE
Institution: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY SCH OF MED
Funded outputs count: 13
Funder award ID: R21AG038850
OpenAlex ID: G4025858591