Analysis of the geroprotective potential of retinoic acid in the Drosophila melanogaster model

Retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A, is an important component of signaling between cells in an organism. At the same time, there are conflicting data on its effect on the lifespan of organisms. In this work, we have studied the effect of retinoic acid on the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster and its resistance to the oxidative stress inducer named paraquat. Retinoic acid at the concentrations of 10 and 500 μmol/l exerts a geroprotective effect on female Drosophila, increasing the median lifespan and the 90 % mortality age by 2–5 and 6 %, respectively. However, this substance has not affected the survival rate of males, as well as the resistance to the prooxidant paraquat of flies of both sexes. The positive effect of retinoic acid on the lifespan may be due to the activation of the DNA repair genes mei-9 and okr.