Effect of chronic caloric restriction on hepatic enzymes of intermediary metabolism in aged B6C3F1 female mice.
Caloric restriction (CR) extends maximum life span and significantly retards the rate of occurrence of most age-associated degenerative diseases. The effect of CR in female mice on several hepatic enzymes was examined after 33 month old mice were killed at either the onset of dark, the onset of light or the mid-dark span. Animals had been singly caged with 12 hr of light followed by 12 hr of dark. All feeding was in the early dark span. CR mice were given 60% of the caloric intake of ad libitum fed mice throughout their lives (CR was initiated at 14 weeks of age). Livers were frozen to await preparation and then analysis for 14 enzymes of intermediary metabolism by our standard procedures. Enzymes of gluconeogenesis and amino acid metabolism were increased at all times due to CR. Enzymes of glycolysis and lipid metabolism were decreased at all times. However, maximum differences between ad libitum and CR mice occurred during the mid-dark span (this is the time of normal acrophase in younger mice). Circadian variation was lost and mesors changed for nearly all enzymes measured from mice that had been fed ad libitum. CR mice were found to maintain circadian variation of activities and activity profiles were similar to those seen in younger ad libitum fed mice. These observations suggest that the mechanism through which CR elicits its effects may involve a circadian component.