Post-dauer life span of Caenorhabditis elegans dauer larvae can be modified by X-irradiation

The time spent as a dauer larva does not affect adult life span in caenorhabditis elegans,as if aging is suspended in this quiescent developmental stage. we now report that modest doses x-irradiation of dauer larvae increased their post-dauer longevity. post-irradiation incubation of young dauer larvae did not modify this beneficial effect of radiation. conversely,holding dauer larvae prior to irradiation rendered them refractory to this x-radiation-induced response. we present a model to explain these results. these experiments demonstrate that dauer larvae provide an excellent opportunity to study mechanisms by which x irradiation can extend life span.