Institute of Gerontology, Academy of Medical Science of Ukraine, Vyshgorodskaya ul., 67, Kiev 254114, Ukraine

Abstract

Experiments on the Wistar rats showed that neonatal daily injections of phenobarbital (35mg/kg) during first 3 days of life resulted in the enzyme imprinting of liver microsomal monooxygenases. Rise in the activities of liver microsomal oxidation enzymes is constantly maintained during all the life leading to increase in average lifespan of rats. Analysis of the survival curves in Gompertz equation co-ordinates showed that enzyme imprinting by phenobarbital caused changes in mortality patterns at different stages of onthogenesis. The phenomenon of enzyme imprinting by phenobarbital and lifespan prolongation was registered only in females but not in males. An inverse correlation was found between the duration of phenobarbital sleeping time and lifespan of rats.