Comparative metabolomics of aging in a long-lived bat: Insights into the physiology of extreme longevity.

Title

Comparative metabolomics of aging in a long-lived bat: Insights into the physiology of extreme longevity.

Creator

Ball Hope C; Levari-Shariati Shiva; Cooper Lisa Noelle; Aliani Michel

Publisher

PloS one

Date

2018
1905-7

Description

Vespertilionid bats (Mammalia: Order Chiroptera) live 3-10 times longer than other mammals of an equivalent body size. At present, nothing is known of how bat fecal metabolic profiles shift with age in any taxa. This study established the feasibility of using a non-invasive, fecal metabolomics approach to examine age-related differences in the fecal metabolome of young and elderly adult big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) as an initial investigation into using metabolomics for age determination. Samples were collected from captive, known-aged big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) from 1 to over 14 years of age: these two ages represent age groups separated by approximately 75% of the known natural lifespan of this taxon. Results showed 41 metabolites differentiated young (n = 22) and elderly (n = 6) Eptesicus. Significant differences in metabolites between young and elderly bats were associated with tryptophan metabolism and incomplete protein digestion. Results support further exploration of the physiological mechanisms bats employ to achieve exceptional longevity.

Subject

Animals; *Metabolomics; Chiroptera/*physiology; Feces/*chemistry; Longevity/*physiology

Rights

Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

Pages

e0196154–e0196154

Issue

5

Volume

13

Citation

Ball Hope C; Levari-Shariati Shiva; Cooper Lisa Noelle; Aliani Michel, “Comparative metabolomics of aging in a long-lived bat: Insights into the physiology of extreme longevity.,” NEOMED Bibliography Database, accessed March 28, 2024, https://neomed.omeka.net/items/show/4964.