# PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF OLD MICE AND LONGEVITY

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 1993 · $137,856

## Abstract

This grant is a joint effort by two laboratories (USA & Switzerland)
interested in the role of host resistance and endocrine interactions in
aging.  Dr. Pierpaoli has made the remarkable observation that treatment of
C57BL/6 and other strains of mice with melatonin, or transplantation of the
pineal gland of young mice to the thymus gland of old mice, restores
certain immune functions and increases the maximum life span of mice over
untreated or sham controls.  This indicates that one or more basic aging
processes are being interrupted and important physiological functions are
being restored in old mice.  Melatonin is a regulatory hormone whose levels
have been linked to various cancers especially breast and prostate as well
as to the functioning of the immune system (Pool, R. Electromagnetic
Fields:  The Biological Evidence.  Science, 249:1378, 1990.  The extension
of life, we hypothesize is afforded by longer maintenance and/or general
restoration of host immune defensive reflex responses and neuroendocrine
interactions in the older mice treated with melatonin.  Ghanta and Hiramoto
will study in old mice whether the defensive reflex response is defective
and whether or not this defect is due to the inability of the CNS to
perceive conditioned stimulus (CS) signals or if the defect resides in the
inability of NK cells to respond.  Pierpaoli's studies will be focused on
the neuroendocrine mechanisms which are responsible for restoration of
immunity and longevity.  It would be of vital importance to secure
information on the neuroendocrine mechanisms by which melatonin exerts its
favorable effects on old mice in restoring either CNS perception of
environmental signals and immune resistance.  These studies include
studying the effect of pinealectomy on longevity, and the effect of pineal
transplants from young donors to old recipients on alterations of immune
reactivity, hormonal functions, and lipid metabolism.  These studies are
unique in that we know of no other laboratories in this country or abroad
which are engaged in this approach to study the problems linked to aging.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3122226
- **Project number:** 5R01AG010263-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **SAM.gov UEI:** YND4PLMC9AN7
- **Principal Investigator:** RAYMOND N HIRAMOTO
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $137,856
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1992-04-01 → 1995-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3122226

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3122226, PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF OLD MICE AND LONGEVITY (5R01AG010263-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3122226. Licensed CC0.

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