Biochemical Criteria for Senescence in Mammalian Structures

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Abstract
Free cholesterol and lipid phosphorus were determined in the liver and muscle of 70 male rats, of which 30 rats were of the C.F.N. (specific pathogen-free) strain, 10 for each of three different age groups: 6 to 12, 14 to 22 and 24 to 32 months. The remaining 40 rats were of the Sprague-Dawley strain, 10 for each of four different age groups: 6 to 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24 and 24 to 30 months. In both tissues the content of free cholesterol increases gradually from lower values in young growing rats to higher values in senescent rats, whereas the content of lipid phosphorus decreases from higher values in young animals to lower values in senescent animals. Consequently, the ratio of free cholesterol to lipid phosphorus increases in both tissues from lower values in young growing animals to higher values in senescent animals. These changes during aging are less pronounced in C.F.N. rats (with a longer life span) than they are in Sprague-Dawley rats (with a shorter life span).