Age-specific variation of resistance to oxidative stress in the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber roseus)

Abstract

Birds exhibit exceptional longevity and are thus regarded as a convenient model to study the intrinsic mechanisms of aging. The oxidative stress theory of aging suggests that individuals age because molecules, cells, tissues, organs, and, ultimately, animals accumulate oxidative damage over time. Accumulation of damage progressively reduces the level of antioxidant defences that are expected to decline with age. To test this theory, we measured the resistance of red blood cells to free radical attack in a captive population of greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber roseus) of known age ranging from 0.3 to 45 years. We observed a convex relationship with young adults (12-20 years old) having greater resistance to oxidative stress than immature flamingos (5 months old) and old flamingos (30-45 years old). Our results suggest that the antioxidant detoxifying system must go through a maturation process before being completely functional. It then declines in older adults, supporting the oxidative theory of aging. Oxidative stress could hence play a significant role in shaping the pattern of senescence in a very long-lived bird species.

Antioxidant Defenses Predict Long-Term Survival in a Passerine Bird

“…Indeed, age did not predict AOC, and this was observed after discounting the effect of selection. This finding corroborates the inference of no variation of plasma antioxidant capacity with age recorded in a cross-sectional study of another passerine bird, the collared flycatcher ( Ficedula albicollis ) [29], although differs from the result of a study of the long-lived greater flamingo ( Phoenicopterus ruber roseus ), where resistance to oxidative stress was found to peak at intermediate ages (12–20 years) [28]. Moreover, the negative relationship between hazard of death and AOC emerged also in an analysis of a subset of individuals where we controlled for age effects.…”

Twofold cost of reproduction: an increase in parental effort leads to higher malarial parasitaemia and to a decrease in resistance to oxidative stress

“…We used the Kit Radicaux Libres (KRL) test adapted to bird parameters (Brevet spiral V02023, Couternon, France; [38][39][40][41][42]). The principle of the test is to submit whole blood to a thermo-controlled free-radical aggression by a chemical reagent: the 2,2 0 -azobis-(aminodinopropane) hydrochloride (AAPH) [43].…”

Age, oxidative stress exposure and fitness in a long‐lived seabird

“…The data that do exist are largely cross‐sectional and find not a linear, but a quadratic relationship with age, with antioxidant capacity proving low (Devevey et al . ; Isaksson et al . ) and oxidative damage high (Bergeron et al .…”

“…While studies in short-lived model species such as mice and flies do indicate an increase in oxidative damage with age, even in the relatively benign and constant captive environment Sohal et al 1994;Yasuda et al 1999;Hamilton et al 2001), data on agerelated changes in oxidative damage levels in long lived species, and how these relate to life expectancy, are rare (Selman et al 2012). The data that do exist are largely cross-sectional and find not a linear, but a quadratic relationship with age, with antioxidant capacity proving low (Devevey et al 2010;Isaksson et al 2011) and oxidative damage high (Bergeron et al 2011) not just in older individuals, as predicted, but also in the younger age classes, relative to middle-aged individuals. This could reflect different trade-offs, for example between somatic maintenance and other energetically costly activities such as growth or age-related competition, or it could relate to selective disappearance of particular phenotypes from the population (Reid et al 2003;Monaghan et al 2008;Nussey et al 2008).…”