Calorie restriction‐induced maternal longevity is transmitted to their daughters in a rotifer

Summary 1 Extension of life span by food shortage, often mimicked by calorie restriction (CR) in the laboratory, is one of the most common life-history alterations in eukaryotes. Although the life-history of offspring often changes in response to the parental environment, it has remained ambiguous whether or not CR-induced longevity is transmitted to the next generation. 2 Here, we investigated the effects of CR on life span, oxidative stress resistance and the expression levels of two antioxidant enzymes, catalase and manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD), in the parthenogenetic rotifer Brachionus plicatilis during two consecutive generations. 3 Rotifers under CR lived 50% longer than those fed ad libitum (AL) in association with enhancement of oxidative stress resistance and increased mRNA levels of catalase and Mn SOD. 4 The daughters from the CR-treated mothers lived 20% longer than those from the mothers fed AL regardless of food-rich and CR conditions for the daughter. Furthermore, the daughters from the CR-treated mothers were endowed at birth with a higher ability to resist oxidative stress and the increased mRNA levels for catalase, but not for Mn SOD. In agreement with the mRNA expression patterns, CR increased the protein levels of catalase and Mn SOD in eggs and the whole body of mothers, respectively. 5 Our results for these asexually reproducing rotifers provide the first evidence that the longevity and oxidative stress resistance resulting from CR can be passed on to subsequent generations.