Mifepristone Reduces Food Palatability and Affects Drosophila Feeding and Lifespan.

ABSTRACT: The Drosophila GeneSwitch system facilitates the spatial and temporal control of gene expression through dietary supplementation of mifepristone (RU486). Because experimental and control groups differ only by treatment with RU486, confounding results from using flies of different genetic backgrounds are eliminated, making GeneSwitch especially useful in studies of aging. However, the effect of RU486 itself on longevity has not been well characterized, particularly in relation to nutritional states known to affect lifespan. Here, we show that RU486 has dose- and diet-dependent effects on longevity in both sexes. On low nutrient diets, RU486 supplementation reduces total food consumption, perhaps exacerbating undernutrition to shorten life. RU486 also inhibits proboscis extension responses t

SUBMITTER: Yamada R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5233908 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature