Scientists previously speculated that animals with high metabolic rates tend to have a shorter lifespan than those with slow metabolisms.
In this study, the researchers exposed hamsters to high temperatures, about 32.5 degrees Celsius, and found that metabolism fell as body temperature went up.
They also found that the lifespan of hamsters living in high temperatures dropped by 41 percent for males and 28 percent for females, compared with those living in about 21 degrees Celsius, according to the study published recently in the journal Nature Metabolism.
The researchers then used small fans to blow air over the rodents exposed to high temperatures. This did not affect their metabolic rate but lowered their body temperatures.
With the lower body temperatures, the rodent lifespan recovered to the level of those living at 21 degrees Celsius.
The researchers hypothesize that body temperature is a much more important mediator of lifespan than metabolic rate. Therefore, we may "live cool, die old," rather than "live slow, die old." (Xinhua)
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