Two studies have concluded that lithium exposure extends the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. However, the effect of lithium on another widely used model organism, Drosophila melanogaster, remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that chronic treatment with a low to moderate dose of lithium chloride does not extend lifespan in D. melanogaster and that the drug abolishes the female lifespan advantage in flies.
Keywords: ageing; lithium; sex difference.
© 2015 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.