Effect of age on oxygen consumption, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, inorganic peroxides and chloroform-soluble antioxidants in the adult male housefly, Musca domestica.

The objective of this study was to determine whether aging in the housefly is associated with a general decline in the efficiency of the mechanisms protective against the intermediates of oxygen metabolism. The rate of oxygen consumption, activities of superoxide dismutase (total and cyanide-insensitive) and catalase, and levels of inorganic peroxides, glutathione (GSH and GSSG) and chloroform-soluble antioxidants were measured in adult male houseflies at different ages. Rate of oxygen consumption declined in flies approaching the average life span of the population. Activity of total and cyanide-insensitive superoxide dismutase decreased during the last trimester of life. Catalase activity steadily declined with age while the concentration of inorganic peroxides gradually increased during the later two-thirds of the average life span. Levels of total glutathione and GSH decreased during later half of life whereas the relative concentration of GSSG increased during this period. The concentration of chloroform-soluble antioxidants sharply declined during the first half of life. These results are interpreted to suggest that the enzymatic and non-enzymatic defenses against oxygen free radicals and hydroperoxides tend to deteriorate with age in the adult housefly.