Journal article
Comparative biology of aging in birds: an update
Experimental gerontology, Vol.36(4), pp.869-883
2001
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/105957
PMID: 11295520
Abstract
The long life spans and slow aging rates of birds relative to mammals are paradoxical in view of birds' high metabolic rates, body temperatures and blood glucose levels, all of which are predicted to be liabilities by current biochemical theories of aging. Available avian life-table data show that most birds undergo rapid to slow “gradual” senescence. Some seabird species exhibit extremely slow age-related declines in both survival and reproductive output, and even increase reproductive success as they get older. Slow avian senescence is thought to be coupled evolutionarily with delayed maturity and low annual fecundity. Recent research in our lab and others supports the hypothesis that birds have special adaptations for preventing age-related tissue damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and advanced glycosylation endproducts, or AGEs, as well as an unusual capacity for neurogeneration in brain. Much of this work is in its early stages, however, and reliable biomarkers for comparing avian and mammalian aging need more thorough development.
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Details
- Title
- Comparative biology of aging in birds: an update
- Creators
- D.J Holmes - Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-3051, USAR Flückiger - Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-3051, USAS.N Austad - Novacule, LLC, 24 Beaconsfield Rd., Brookline, MA 02445, USA
- Publication Details
- Experimental gerontology, Vol.36(4), pp.869-883
- Academic Unit
- Center for Reproductive Biology
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Identifiers
- 99900546627801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article