Rat tissue markers of mitochondrial quality control with aging and 40% calorie restriction
In male rats, aging was linked to higher fusion, biogenesis and autophagy markers in liver, diaphragm and tibialis anterior, while the heart showed no aging-related changes; 40% calorie restriction for 13 months countered several of these shifts in a tissue-specific way. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Markers of mitochondrial content, biogenesis, mitophagy, dynamics and autophagy were quantified in liver, heart, diaphragm and tibialis anterior of male Sprague-Dawley rats in three groups, including old rats given 40% calorie restriction for 13 months. [1]
Aging increased fusion markers in liver, diaphragm and tibialis anterior, with a similar trend in the heart, while DRP1 was unchanged in all tissues. [1]
Calorie restriction attenuated the aging-induced rise in biogenesis markers in diaphragm and tibialis anterior and blunted the elevation of autophagy markers in liver, diaphragm and tibialis anterior. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Animal study reported in an abstract
- Population / context
- Male Sprague-Dawley rats in three groups: mature adults fed freely at 9 months, old rats fed freely at 22 months, and old rats at 22 months with 40% calorie restriction for 13 months.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Publication status
- Preprint · peer-review status not confirmed
- Original publication
- September 4, 2026
Markers measured in four rat tissues
The abstract describes quantifying markers of mitochondrial content (TOM20, citrate synthase), biogenesis (TFAM), mitophagy (BNIP3), dynamics (OPA1, MFN2, DRP1) and autophagy (p62, LC3-II/LC3-I) in liver, heart, diaphragm and tibialis anterior of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Three groups were compared: mature adults fed freely at 9 months, old rats fed freely at 22 months, and old rats at 22 months given 40% calorie restriction for 13 months. These are tissue marker measurements, not measures of lifespan or healthspan in these animals.
Supporting source [1]
Aging shifts markers toward fusion in most tissues
According to the abstract, aging increased fusion markers in liver, diaphragm and tibialis anterior, with a similar trend in the heart, while DRP1 was unchanged in all tissues; the authors read this as arguing against a fission-dominant aging phenotype. Biogenesis and autophagy markers rose with age in liver, diaphragm and tibialis anterior, and BNIP3 increased selectively in the tibialis anterior. The heart showed no aging-related changes. The abstract also states that aging shifts dynamics toward fusion while impairing autophagy in multiple tissues, with the heart largely spared.
Supporting source [1]
Calorie restriction counters some shifts tissue-specifically
The abstract reports that calorie restriction prevented several age-related alterations: it attenuated the aging-induced rise in biogenesis markers in diaphragm and tibialis anterior, blunted the elevation of autophagy markers in liver, diaphragm and tibialis anterior, and reduced fusion markers in the tibialis anterior with a trend toward reduction in the diaphragm. It also had tissue-specific effects: it promoted fission in the liver (trending toward an increase) while suppressing it in the tibialis anterior, and elevated BNIP3 in the liver while trending toward its reduction in the tibialis anterior. The authors describe this as supporting a tissue-specific model in which calorie restriction attenuates aging-induced disruption of mitochondrial quality control.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This explainer is based only on the abstract; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports marker measurements in male rats, not lifespan or healthspan outcomes, and the findings are associations in an animal model, not evidence of benefit for people.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Taherkhani S, Leduc-Gaudet J, Faitg J, Reynaud O, Ferland G, Gaudreau P, Gouspillou G. · europepmc.org · September 4, 2026