Interventions of Senescence in SAM Mice

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Abstract
The Senescence-Accelerated Mouse (SAM) strain was established in the Department of Senescence Biology, Chest Disease Research Institute, Kyoto University, as a novel murine model of senescence acceleration and age-associated disorders. This strain is actually a group of related inbred strains (recombinant inbred strain-like) including nine strains of accelerated senescence-prone, short-lived mice (SAMP) and three strains of accelerated senescence-resistant, long-lived mice (SAMR). Each SAMP strain shows relatively strain-specific age-associated pathologies. These characteristic pathological phenotypes are similar to those often observed in elder humans. They include senile osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, age-related deficits in learning and memory with/without forebrain atrophy, presbycusis, senile amyloidosis, age-related impairment of the immune response, and so on. The common aging characteristic of SAMP strains is senescence acceleration after normal development and maturation. We have made attempts to intervene the senescence acceleration and specifically in these pathologies: senile osteoporosis and the age-related deficits in learning and memory. These attempts, including caloric restriction, administration of nutrients, chemicals and traditional herbal medicines, show beneficial effects on the aging process of these mice. Similar interventions may prevent or control the onset and progress of age-associated disorders in other species and may have clinical relevance for humans.