Effects of dietary and pharmacological anti-aging intervention on adult rats

Several pieces of evidence show that autophagy may be an essential part in the antiaging mechanism of caloric restriction. The treatment is highly effective when initiated in young age. There is evidence that a life-long weekly treatment with an antilipolytic drug prevents the age-related changes in autophagy similarly to caloric restriction. In this study, the effects of caloric restriction and the pharmacological intensification of autophagy were investigated in adult rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 12 months were fed ad libitum every other day for a month. During fasting, rats received an injection of 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (DMP), an antilipolytic drug that intensifies autophagy. After a month, rats were sacrificed and the rate of autophagy was investigated in isolated liver cells. Results show that caloric restriction and the pharmalogical intensification of autophagy can prevent the age-related changes and preserve the amino acid and hormone regulation of autophagy. The conclusion is that these two treatments can rescue the autophagic process from age-related decline after only 1 month and act as an effective anti-aging treatment even if initiated in adult age.