The Influence of Dietary Restriction on the Process of Age-related Disorders in Male Donryu Rats

Abstract

Life span, which is mainly influenced by pathologic lesions, was compared between specific pathogen-free male Donryu rats fed ad libitum (AL group) and those with dietary restriction (DR group, restricted to 60% of the ad libitum intake). The major age-related lesions observed were pituitary tumor, chronic nephropathy; cardiomyopathy, and myopathy (anterior tibial and masseter muscle). Dietary restriction was effective in slowing the progression of pituitary tumor, chronic nephropathy and myopathy in anterior tibial muscle. Although cardiomyopathy worsened with age, no difference was seen between the AL and DR group. In conclusion, 1) dietary restriction acts to suppress or delay the development of pathologic lesions that occur with age, 2) the onset phase of a pathologic lesion differs with the lesion and organ involved, 3) inhibiting the development of pituitary adenoma and chronic nephropathy can help prolong the life span of rats, 4) for muscle lesions, depending on their anatomical location, the physiological condition of exercise, as well as the relationship with other organs can be involved.