Interesting statement about insulin levels.    "The rodent was genetically 
engineered not to respond to a growth hormone, a possible reason behind its 
longevity, Bartke said. He added that the mouse's low levels of insulin and 
glucose might also have had something to do with its long life. "

A Methuselah of Mice Dies in Lab

    
By Associated Press

January 17, 2003, 11:36 PM EST

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A Methuselah of mice has died in a laboratory at Southern 
Illinois University, school officials said. 

The dwarf mouse, otherwise known as GHR-KO 11C, died Jan. 8 after living the 
equivalent of 180 to 200 human years, said Andrzej Bartke, a physiologist who 
worked with the mouse. 

At 4 years, 11 months and three weeks old, the lab mouse lived about twice as 
long as its species' average of 2 to 2 1/2 years, and more than eight months 
longer than its closest rival at SIU. 

"This mouse was just amazing," Bartke said. 

The rodent was genetically engineered not to respond to a growth hormone, a 
possible reason behind its longevity, Bartke said. He added that the mouse's 
low levels of insulin and glucose might also have had something to do with 
its long life. 

Scientists placed the eight-gram mouse in a longevity study when they started 
to notice he was outliving his peers, Bartke said. GHR-KO 11C's remains have 
been sent to the University of Texas at San Antonio for further longevity 
research. 

Southern Illinois spokesman K.C. Jaehnig said no overall data base exists to 
determine whether the mouse was the oldest ever. 
Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press  



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