Chapter 19 - Extension of Life Span in Laboratory Mice

Abstract

Since the turn of the century, major advances have been made in discovering manipulations (nutritional and genetic) that increase life span in mice. In this chapter, we list 67 manipulations that have been reported to increase the life span of mice over the past two decades. Interestingly, the effect of the various manipulations on life span is most often sex dependent, i.e., life span is either increased in one sex but not the other or is much greater in one sex. Currently, there are three manipulations that consistently show an increase in both mean and maximum life span in both male and female mice, i.e., they have been replicated by different laboratories and in different genetic backgrounds. These manipulations are dietary restriction, rapamycin, and reduced growth hormone signaling. Therefore, we are in a position for the first time in human history to begin testing potential therapies that might retard age-related diseases and aging in humans.