Endocrine targets for pharmacological intervention in aging in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Studies in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have been instrumental in defining genetic pathways that are involved in modulating lifespan. Multiple processes such as endocrine signaling, nutritional sensing and mitochondrial function play a role in determining lifespan in the worm and these mechanisms appear to be conserved across species. These discoveries have identified a range of novel targets for pharmacological manipulation of lifespan and it is likely that the nematode model will now prove useful in the discovery of compounds that slow aging. This review will focus on the endocrine targets for intervention in aging and the use of C. elegans as a system for high throughput screens of compounds for their effects on aging.