Identifying characteristics of frailty in female mice using a phenotype assessment tool

Preclinical studies are important in identifying the underlying mechanisms contributing to frailty. Frailty studies have mainly focused on male rodents with little directed at female rodents. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to identify the onset and prevalence of frailty across the life span in female mice, and to determine if frailty predicts mortality. Female C57BL/6 (n = 27) mice starting at 17 months of age were assessed across the life span using a frailty phenotype, which included body weight, walking speed, strength, endurance, and physical activity. The onset of frailty occurred at approximately 17 months (1/27 mice), with the prevalence of frailty increasing thereafter. At 17 months, 11.1% of the mice were pre-frail and by 26 months peaked at 36.9%. The percentage of frail mice progressively increased up to 66.7% at 32 months. Non-frail mice lived to 29 months whereas frail/pre-frail mice lived only to 26 months (p = .04). In closing, using a mouse frailty phenotype, we are able to identify that the prevalence of frailty in female mice increases across the life span and accurately predicts mortality. Together, this frailty phenotype has the potential to yield information about the underlying mechanisms contributing to frailty.T32 AG029796 - NIA NIH HHSPublished versio

Sex-specific components of frailty in C57BL/6 mice.

Many age-related biochemical, physiological and behavioral changes are known to be sex-specific. However, how sex influences frailty status and mortality risk in frail rodents has yet to be established. The purpose of this study was therefore to characterize sex differences in frail mice across the lifespan. Male (n=29) and female (n=27) mice starting at 17 months of age were assessed using a frailty phenotype adjusted according to sex, which included body weight, walking speed, strength, endurance and physical activity. Regardless of sex, frail mice were phenotypically dysfunctional compared to age-matched non-frail mice, while non-frail females generally possessed a higher body fat percentage and were more physically active than non-frail males (p≤0.05). The prevalence of frailty was greater in female mice at 26 months of age (p=0.05), but if normalized to mean lifespan, no sex differences remained. No differences were detected in the rate of death or mean lifespan between frail male and female mice (p≥0.12). In closing, these data indicate that sexual differences exist in aging C57BL/6 mice and if the frailty criteria are adjusted according to sex, the prevalence of frailty increases across age with frail mice dying early in life, regardless of sex.T32 AG029796 - NIA NIH HHS; T32 AR007612 - NIAMS NIH HHSPublished versio

African Rue (Peganum Harmala L.) In The United States

Since its introduction into the United States, Peganum Harmala L. has become designated as African rue and by a few other names (probably none of them used for the species in its native area.) Although it does not belong to the rue family, but occurs in northern Africa, it also grows in western Asia near the Mediterranean Sea, and in south­eastern Europe

A New Wild Onion (Allium Zenobiae) from South-Central Texas

ALLIUM Zenobiae Cory, sp. nov. Ad A. mobilense Regel spectans, robustior; bulbus bulbillos sessiles gerens; umbella grandis usque 175-flora, tepalis lavandulis 6 mm. longis. TYPE: 2½ miles southwest of Giddings, Lee Co., Texas, Cory 55759, May 6, 1949 (in Herb. Southern Methodist University). Bulb ovoid, 10 mm. broad or more, the outer coats fibrous-reticulate, usually with a few (up to 7) sessile bulblets at base; bulblets ovoid, about 8 mm. long and 5 mm. broad; umbel large, up to 6 cm. across, with up to 175 flowers; perianth segments lavender, about 6 mm. long, the outer elliptic, about 3 mm. broad, the inner oblong, about 1.5 mm. broad

The Disappearance Of Plant Species From The Range In Texas

My study of the range began in 1923. Since then, under conditions of continuous (and often excessive) grazing, I have observed that certain palatable species of range plants have disappeared, and others have been severely reduced in abundance. Doubtless other species vanished before 1923, when I began my observations

A New Yellow-Flowered Rain Lily In Texas

Most of us know one or both of the white-flowered rain lilies (Cooperiri Drummondii Herb. and C. peclunculata Herb.) which spring up suddenly and burst into full bloom several days after a significant rainfall; but most of us have never seen a yellow-flowered rain lily