Dontsov V.I. Methods of aging
research (Theoretical and experimental gerontology). ISBN: 978-3-8484-1140-5. Lambert Academic Pulishing GmbH&Co. 2012. 330 c. (Russian)
An overview of various methods of aging
research is provided, allowing the researcher to assess the severity of aging
processes both in the study of populations and individual organisms, and in
most cases to use the methods himself, without resorting to searching for the
original. The article describes theoretical methods of research and mathematical
modeling of aging, statistical methods for estimating life expectancy and aging
rate, viability, genetic, physiological, biochemical, immunological and
morphological methods.
Content
Chapter 1.
A theoretical method for studying
aging................................................7
1.1. The history of the theoretical
method..............................................7
1.2. Methodology of Cognition – a paradigm
shift...............................12
1.2.1. Three general methods of
cognition............................................12
1.2.2. A systematic approach – a modern
methodology of cognition....13
1.3. Aging as a global
phenomenon.................................................…14
1.4. The essential definition and the
cause of aging..............................20
1.5. The Unified systemic theory of
aging............................................25
Chapter 2.
Mathematical modeling as a method of
studying aging.........................32
2.1. Theoretical modeling of
aging.......................................................32
2.1.1. The importance of theoretical
models for the study of aging.......32
2.1.2. The main global mechanisms of
aging.......................................34
2.1.3. Modeling of the main global
mechanisms of aging.....................39
2.2. Models of self-regulation of cellular
growth in the study of aging..49
2.2.1. Self-organization of cellular
systems as the basis of evolution.....49
2.2.2. The concept of a new regulatory
system of the body...................59
2.2.3. The new immuno-regulatory
theory of aging..............................67
Chapter 3.
Natural models for studying
aging........................................................72
3.1. Somatic diseases as models for
studying aging..............................72
3.2. A natural model of aging, research of
means geroprophylaxis…....73
3.3. Using protozoa to simulate
aging..................................................78
3.4. Different organisms and aging
patterns..........................................81
3.5. Growth, development and life
expectancy.....................................87
Chapter 4.
Population-based methods of aging
research.........................................95
4.1. The importance of the observation
method in gerontology.............95
4.2. Population-based methods of aging
research..................................95
4.2.1. The history and essence of
statistical methods in gerontology......95
4.2.2. Age mortality study………………………..................................98
4.2.3. Using the Gompertz
formula.....................................................102
4.3. Biological age: concept and
essence.............................................107
Chapter 5.
Genetic methods for studying
aging...................................................117
5.1. Trends in the genetics of
aging....................................................117
5.2. Longevity
Research.....................................................................119
5.3. Progeria –
hereditary accelerated aging.........................................120
5.4. Animal lines and life
expectancy.................................................125
5.5. Gene Knockout and transgenic
mice...........................................126
5.5.1. The gene Knockout
method....................................................126
5.5.2. Knockout mice - significance for
gerontology .........................127
Chapter 6.
Morphological methods of studying
aging.........................................130
6.1. Levels of
aging...........................................................................130
6.2. Morphological criteria of
aging...................................................134
6.2.1. General manifestations of tissue
aging......................................134
6.2.2. General morphological methods of
studying aging...................136
Chapter 7.
Methods of studying cell
aging...........................................................143
7.1. General manifestations of cell aging ………….............................143
7.2. Cell apoptosis and
aging..............................................................144
7.3. Aging and cellular
proliferation...................................................148
7.3.1. Stimulants and inhibitors of cell
proliferation ..........................148
7.3.2. Reduction of cell self-renewal in
old age…...............................154
7.3.3. Replicative
cell aging...............................................................156
7.4. Stem
cells...................................................................................162
7.5 Intracellular changes in
aging.......................................................166
7.5.1. The acidity of the intracellular
environment.............................166
7.5.2. Changes in mitochondria during
aging.....................................168
7.5.3. Free calcium in the cytoplasm of
cells......................................174
7.5.4. Changes in lysosomes
during aging.........................................178
7.5.5. Cell reactivity and
aging..........................................................180
7.5.6. Aging of the cell
nucleus........................................................189
7.5.7. Membrane potential and
aging................................................194
7.5.8. Microviscosity
of cell membranes...........................................195
7.5.9. Electrokinetic
properties of nuclei.......................................…199
7.5.10. Methods of histomorphology...............................................202
Chapter 8.
Physiological methods of studying
aging...........................................211
8.1. Virtual instruments for scientific
research...................................211
8.2. Diagnosis of the general condition of
animals........................…216
8.2.1. General
indicators..................................................................216
8.2.2. Physical strength....................................................................217
8.2.3. Morphological
indicators.......................................……….....220
8.2.4. General
reactivity...................................................................220
8.2.5. Tissue growth
potential..........................................................223
8.2.6. Methods for assessing age-related
osteoporosis ......................225
8.2.7. Aging of connective tissue.....................................................232
8.2.8. Changes in the body's water
content.......................................235
8.2.9. Aging of the immune
system..................................................236
8.2.10. Methods of parabiosis,
removal, transplantation and transplantation of organs.…248
8.3. Other physiological indicators....................................................251
Chapter 9.
Biochemical methods for studying
aging...........................................253
9.1. Chromatin changes during
aging................................................253
9.2. Protein metabolism and
enzymes................................................265
9.3. Changes in individual proteins during
aging...............................269
9.4. Carbohydrate metabolism and
aging...........................................270
9.5. Lipid metabolism and
aging.......................................................271
9.6. Energy metabolism and aging....................................................273
9.7. Antioxidant system and
aging...................................................276
Chapter 10.
Other methods of studying
aging..................................................…295
10.1. Study of the crystallization of
blood serum.............................295
10.2. Study of correlations of
biomarkers........................................295
10.3. Pulse wave propagation velocity.............................................297
10.4. Noninvasive assessment of skin
aging....................................297
Conclusion.....................................................................................299
Applications...................................................................................306
Bibliography..................................................................................314