The lipid profile is a robust indicator of functional senescence in the Medfly Ceratitis capitata

L.M. PUJOL-LEREIS; A. RABOSSI; L.A. QUESADA- ALLUÉ

Potrero de Funes, San Luis

Congreso; XLVII Reunión Anual; 2011

SAIB

The lipid profile is a robust indicator of functional senescence in the Medfly Ceratitis capitata Pujol-Lereis, Luciana M.; Alejandro Rabossi and Luis A. Quesada-Allué. IIBBA-CONICET, QB-FCEyN-UBA and FIL. Av. Patricias Argentinas 435, Buenos Aires, Argentina (1405). The Medfly Ceratitis capitata is a global orchard pest of great economic importance. Population studies in this species have been essential to answer fundamental demographic questions. We used C. capitata as a model to study functional senescence, combining demographic, behavioral and biochemical parameters. We previously analyzed survival curves of C. capitata under standard laboratory conditions (23°C, 60% RH), as well as changes in spontaneous locomotor activity, negative geotaxis performance and lipid profile with age. Multivariate statistical analyses showed age-dependent changes of the lipid pattern that were mostly influenced by, e.g., sterol esters, isoprenoids and fatty acid esters. To evaluate if the lipid profile could be use as a biomarker of functional state, we compared these results with those of populations maintained under a mild thermal stress of 28°C. Mean longevity of females kept at 28°C was lower than 23°C controls, while males did not present differences in their survival curves. The performance in different behavioral assays of individuals kept at 28 ° C was worse than that of individuals at 23 ° C. The lipid pattern of young populations at 28°C was similar to the pattern of old populations at 23°C. In conclusion, we believe that the lipid profile is a good indicator of the functional state of flies, which declines with age and under a stress condition.