Improvement of immune function and redox state in several organs of old and prematurely aging female mice after a short social interaction with adults

Abstract

Aging is associated with chronic oxidative stress, which contributes to the deterioration of the immune system, increasing morbidity and mortality. A positive social environment permits health maintenance and a slower rate of aging. Improvements in immune function and oxidative stress were shown in peritoneal leukocytes and organs of old mice and adult prematurely aging mice (PAM) after cohabitation with adults or exceptional non-prematurely aging mice (ENPAM), respectively, for 2 months, but adults and ENPAM experienced deterioration. This was solved by shortening the cohabitation time to 15 minutes per day for 2 months, where old mice and PAM maintained immune and redox state improvements in their peritoneal leukocytes, as well as a greater longevity, and adults and ENPAM did not show deterioration. However, it is unknown whether the positive effects of this short cohabitation are reflected in the immunity and redox state of the organs. The aim of the present study was to test whether a cohabitation of 15 minutes per day for 2 months maintains these positive effects in the organs of retired breeder female old mice and PAM and avoids the negative ones in adults and ENPAM. After cohabitation the animals were sacrificed, and the thymus and spleen were extracted to evaluate the immune function. The oxidative state was also analyzed in the spleen, liver, heart, lung, and kidney. The results show that after cohabitation, old mice and PAM improved their immunity and redox state, and adults and ENPAM showed no deterioration. This cohabitation can be suggested to improve health and slow down aging.