Effect of Epitalon on biomarkers of aging, life span and spontaneous tumor incidence in female Swiss-derived SHR mice

Lifelong study in female SHR mice. Mean lifespan unchanged, maximum lifespan 12.3 % higher, fewer chromosome aberrations and six times fewer leukaemias with an unchanged overall tumour rate.

Key points

• Female mice received Epitalon or saline monthly from the third month of life until natural death.
• Food intake, body weight and mean lifespan did not differ; maximum lifespan was 12.3 % higher, survival of the last 10 % of animals 13.3 % higher.
• Chromosome aberrations in bone marrow were 17.1 % less frequent, leukaemias occurred six times less often, the total number of tumours stayed the same.

Assessment

Evidence type: preclinical, animal model. A rare long-term design spanning the whole lifespan. The paper comes from the institute that developed Epitalon; the findings on maximum lifespan have not yet been confirmed in independent studies. Profile: Epitalon.