A short social interaction between adult and old mice improves the homeostatic systems and increases healthy longevity

The aging process can be influenced by environmental factors, such as the social environment. The continuous cohabitation of the chronologically old mice with adult animals improves them at the behavioral level, immune function, oxidative stress and longevity, but causes a deterioration of these par...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental gerontology 2022-02, Vol.158, p.111653-111653, Article 111653
Main Authors: Díaz-del Cerro, Estefanía, Ceprián, Noemí, Félix, Judith, De la Fuente, Mónica
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Animals
Behavior
Female
Immune function
Leukocytes
Longevity
Mice
Oxi-inflammatory state
Oxidation-Reduction
Oxidative Stress
Oxytocin
Social Interaction
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Summary:The aging process can be influenced by environmental factors, such as the social environment. The continuous cohabitation of the chronologically old mice with adult animals improves them at the behavioral level, immune function, oxidative stress and longevity, but causes a deterioration of these parameters in adults. Therefore, the objective of the study was to study whether the coexistence for only 15 min a day of old mice with adult mice, can produce that improvement and greater longevity in old animals without causing deterioration in adults. For that, old and adult CD1 female mice, after two months of that social interaction, were submitted to a behavioral battery and then peritoneal leukocytes were collected to assess several immune functions, oxidative and inflammatory stress parameters as well as catecholamine concentrations. When the adult mice reached old age, the same parameters were again analyzed. The life span of each animal was also recorded. Plasmatic concentration of oxytocin was also studied. The results showed that old mice presented better behavioral capacity, immunity and oxi-inflammatory state after this social interaction with adult animals, and consequently an extended life span. Adult mice, in general, did not show any changes after social interaction with old animals, but when they achieved old age, improvements of some parameters and of longevity were observed in comparison with animals that never had a that social interaction. In conclusion, a short social interaction between old and adult individuals can be an excellent strategy for improving in both the health state and longevity. •Short social interaction improved sensorimotor abilities and anxiety of old mice.•Short cohabitation improved several functions of peritoneal leukocytes of old mice.•Short social interaction improved oxi-inflammatory state of leukocytes of old mice.•Adult mice, after social interacting with old mice, reached a healthy old age.•Short cohabitation between old and adult mice increased lifespan in both groups.
ISSN:0531-5565
1873-6815
DOI:10.1016/j.exger.2021.111653