Quantifiable biomarkers of normal aging in the Japanese medaka fish (Oryzias latipes).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Small laboratory fish share many anatomical and histological characteristics
with other vertebrates, yet can be maintained in large numbers at low cost for lifetime
studies. Here we characterize biomarkers associated with normal aging in the Japanese
medaka (Oryzias latipes), a species that has been widely used in toxicology studies
and has potential utility as a model organism for experimental aging research. PRINCIPAL
FINDINGS: The median lifespan of medaka was approximately 22 months under laboratory
conditions. We performed quantitative histological analysis of tissues from age-grouped
individuals representing young adults (6 months old), mature adults (16 months old),
and adults that had survived beyond the median lifespan (24 months). Livers of 24-month
old individuals showed extensive morphologic changes, including spongiosis hepatis,
steatosis, ballooning degeneration, inflammation, and nuclear pyknosis. There were
also phagolysosomes, vacuoles, and residual bodies in parenchymal cells and congestion
of sinusoidal vessels. Livers of aged individuals were characterized by increases
in lipofuscin deposits and in the number of TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells. Some of
these degenerative characteristics were seen, to a lesser extent, in the livers of
16-month old individuals, but not in 6-month old individuals. The basal layer of the
dermis showed an age-dependent decline in the number of dividing cells and an increase
in senescence-associated β-galactosidase. The hearts of aged individuals were characterized
by fibrosis and lipofuscin deposition. There was also a loss of pigmented cells from
the retinal epithelium. By contrast, age-associated changes were not apparent in skeletal
muscle, the ocular lens, or the brain. SIGNIFICANCE: The results provide a set of
markers that can be used to trace the process of normal tissue aging in medaka and
to evaluate the effect of environmental stressors.
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/4576Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1371/journal.pone.0013287Publication Info
Hinton, DE (2010). Quantifiable biomarkers of normal aging in the Japanese medaka fish (Oryzias latipes).
PLoS One, 5(10). pp. e13287. 10.1371/journal.pone.0013287. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/4576.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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David E. Hinton
Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Environmental Quality
The Hinton laboratory focuses on mechanistic toxicity in all life stages of small,
aquarium model fish and in selected species with particular environmental relevance
(freshwater and marine). With the latter, investigations focus on stressor responses
and include follow up studies after oil spills. Studies with the laboratory model
fish take advantage of the compressed life cycle to improve understanding of organellar,
cellular and tissues responses that arise after exposure and follow either a

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