Sodium arsenite shortened lifespan in parent and offspring C. elegans
In C. elegans, exposure to 100 or 200 μM sodium arsenite from the L1 to L4 larval stage shortened lifespan in both parents and offspring; the abstract links this to the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway, oxidative stress and autophagy. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Exposure to 100 or 200 μM sodium arsenite from the L1 to L4 larval stage significantly shortened lifespan in C. elegans. [1]
In parents and offspring, arsenite reduced SOD activity and increased reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde accumulation. [1]
Rapamycin alleviated the pro-aging effects of arsenite in both generations. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Preclinical laboratory study in C. elegans (abstract)
- Population / context
- Caenorhabditis elegans worms, including parents and their offspring
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- October 9, 2026
Arsenite exposure and lifespan in two generations
The study asked how sodium arsenite affects aging in C. elegans parents and their offspring. Worms were exposed from the L1 to L4 larval stage to 100 μM or 200 μM sodium arsenite. This exposure significantly shortened lifespan. The abstract also reports reduced body length, body width, head-swing frequency and heat-stress resistance. These are measured outcomes in the worms, not human findings.
Supporting source [1]
Oxidative stress and insulin signaling in both generations
In parents and offspring, arsenite reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity while increasing reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde accumulation. Gene analysis showed the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway was activated: age-1 and daf-2 were upregulated and daf-16 downregulated. Levels of bec-1, lgg-1 and sod-3 were reduced, which the authors interpret as impaired autophagy and lower DAF-16 activity. Fluorescence measurements in two worm strains matched these gene results.
Supporting source [1]
Rapamycin treatment and the abstract's limits
Treating worms with rapamycin alleviated the pro-aging effects of arsenite in both generations, which the authors use as further evidence for a role of autophagy. The abstract describes an association between arsenite exposure and accelerated aging in these worms; it does not establish cause in humans. Only the abstract was reviewed, not the full text, so details such as sample sizes, replication and exact statistics are not confirmed here.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. Findings are in C. elegans, not humans, and describe associations rather than proven causes of human aging. Sample sizes, replication and exact statistics are not reported in the abstract.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Liu L, Hu H, Chai K, Mao K, Guo G, Liu Y, Zhou H, Yang X, Zhang X, Zhang Q. · europepmc.org · October 9, 2026