From: Doug Skrecky (oberon@vcn.bc.ca)
Date: Mon Apr 16 2001 - 21:20:36 MDT
This is the 38'th update of my fly longevity experiments.
In this run I investigated whether the gradual loss of water from
the fly food reduces survival. Standard practice is to block
the mouth of the milk bottles with cardboard lids. A plastic bag
was placed over a second control bottle, and sealed with an elastic
band. Survival in this sealed control bottle tracked the results
in the other control bottle fairly closely. I conclude that
evaporative losses through the cardboard lid were not affecting survival.
Lithium is known to exert some neuroprotective effects in mammals.
Since fly longevity is known to be controlled by the aging of motor
neurons I thought it likely that lithium may give a survival boost.
A former graduate biology student donated a small vial containing
a fused piece of lithium chloride, with some liquid water inside.
This liquid was measured out and added to the fly food. The results
indicate the doses used were too high. I'll have to test a much lower
dose sometime.
Finally it is notable that a modest amount of the herb asafoeida
appears to be toxic to flies.
Run #38 Percent Survival on Day
supplement 6 10 13 16 22 28 35 40 45 52 57 63 67 74 79
_________________________________________________________________
control 96 91 91 83 65 61 61 52 52 52 43 22 17 9 0
control (sealed) 100 100 100 87 73 67 67 47 47 27 27 20 20 7 0
asafoeida 1/8 tsp 94 38 6 6 0 - - - - - - - - - -
galangal 1/8 tsp 100 100 100 94 88 82 76 65 53 35 24 18 6 0 -
LICL 1/32 tsp 100 100 89 78 44 33 28 28 11 6 6 6 6 6 0
LICL 1/16 tsp 100 82 59 29 12 12 12 6 6 0 - - - - -
LICL 1/8 tsp 100 94 56 28 11 0 - - - - - - - - -
LICL 1/4 tsp 100 87 33 13 0 - - - - - - - - - -
In Freezer Run #10, I tested a variety of supplements. Four days
of feeding sodium citrate appears to be quite toxic. No supplement
offered significant benefit against freezing induced mortality.
Freezer Run #10 Percent Survival After
supplement/20 gm food 0 41 67 minutes
_____________________________________________
control 100 7 0
apple cider vinegar 4000 mg 100 0 -
silymarin 1600 mg 100 6 0
hawthorn 4000 mg 93 13 0
sodium citrate 2 tsp 13 0 -
vitamin E succinate 1600 IU 100 8 0
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