Abstract
What is the relationship between reproduction and longevity? Evolutionary biology suggests that reproduction exacts a cost in somatic maintenance, a cost that reduces longevity. The frequent occurrence of this tradeoff between life span and fecundity, both due to experimental manipulations as well as natural variation, suggest that the mechanism might be conserved during evolution. Until recently, little was known about the mechanistic details of how reproduction might regulate life span. Here we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the regulation of life span by reproductive signaling, focusing on studies using Caenorhabditis elegans.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Aging / physiology
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Animals
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Caenorhabditis elegans / cytology
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Caenorhabditis elegans / embryology
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans / growth & development
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Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / physiology
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Cell Lineage
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Disorders of Sex Development
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Forkhead Transcription Factors
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Genitalia / embryology
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Genitalia / growth & development
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Germ Cells / cytology
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Germ Cells / radiation effects
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Gonads / embryology
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Gonads / growth & development
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Gonads / physiology
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Insulin / physiology
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Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / physiology
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Intestines / physiology
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology
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Longevity / genetics
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Longevity / physiology*
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Models, Biological
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Receptor, Insulin / physiology
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Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / physiology
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Reproduction / genetics
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Reproduction / physiology*
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Signal Transduction / physiology
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Transcription Factors / physiology
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Transforming Growth Factor beta / physiology
Substances
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Forkhead Transcription Factors
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Insulin
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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KRI-1 protein, C elegans
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Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta
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Transcription Factors
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Transforming Growth Factor beta
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daf-16 protein, C elegans
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Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
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DAF-2 protein, C elegans
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Receptor, Insulin