Methionine restriction delays aging-related urogenital diseases in male Fischer 344 rats

Despina Komninou, Virginia L. Malloy, Jay A. Zimmerman, Raghu Sinha, John P. Richie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dietary methionine restriction (MR) has been found to enhance longevity across many species. We hypothesized that MR might enhance longevity in part by delaying or inhibiting age-related disease processes. To this end, male Fischer 344 rats were fed control (CF, 0.86% methionine) or MR (0.17% methionine) diets throughout their life until sacrifice at approximately 30 months of age, and histopathology was performed to identify the incidence and progression of two important aging-related pathologies, namely, chronic progressive nephropathy (CPN) and testicular tumorigenesis. Although kidney pathology was observed in 87% CF rats and CPN in 62% of CF animals, no evidence of kidney disease was observed in MR rats. Consistent with the absence of renal pathology, urinary albumin levels were lower in the MR group compared to controls throughout the study, with over a six-fold difference between the groups at 30 months of age. Biomarkers associated with renal disease, namely, clusterin, cystatin C, and β-2 microglobulin, were reduced following 18 months of MR. A reduction in testicular tumor incidence from 88% in CF to 22% in MR rats was also observed. These results suggest that MR may lead to metabolic and cellular changes providing protection against age-related diseases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)287-297
Number of pages11
JournalGeroScience
Volume42
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Aging
  • veterinary (miscalleneous)
  • Complementary and alternative medicine
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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