long lived mouse

January 19, 2003

Interesting statement about insulin levels. " The rodent was genetically

engineered not to respond to a growth hormone, a possible reason behind its

longevity, Bartke said. He added that the mouse's low levels of insulin and

glucose might also have had something to do with its long life. "

A Methuselah of Mice Dies in Lab

By Associated Press

January 17, 2003, 11:36 PM EST

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A Methuselah of mice has died in a laboratory at Southern

Illinois University, school officials said.

The dwarf mouse, otherwise known as GHR-KO 11C, died Jan. 8 after living the

equivalent of 180 to 200 human years, said Andrzej Bartke, a physiologist who

worked with the mouse.

At 4 years, 11 months and three weeks old, the lab mouse lived about twice as

long as its species' average of 2 to 2 1/2 years, and more than eight months

longer than its closest rival at SIU.

" This mouse was just amazing, " Bartke said.

The rodent was genetically engineered not to respond to a growth hormone, a

possible reason behind its longevity, Bartke said. He added that the mouse's

low levels of insulin and glucose might also have had something to do with

its long life.

Scientists placed the eight-gram mouse in a longevity study when they started

to notice he was outliving his peers, Bartke said. GHR-KO 11C's remains have

been sent to the University of Texas at San for further longevity

research.

Southern Illinois spokesman K.C. Jaehnig said no overall data base exists to

determine whether the mouse was the oldest ever.

<A

,0,4830333.story?coll=sns%2Dap%2Dnationworld%2Dheadlines " >Newsday.com - A

Methuselah of Mice Dies in Lab</A>

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