Mice that lack a class of pain receptors have a longer lifespan and a more youthful metabolism than normal mice.
Previous work had shown that, compared with control animals, mice missing TRPV1 pain receptors were less sensitive to pain and were less likely to become obese when fed a calorie-rich diet. Andrew Dillin of the University of California, Berkeley, and his colleagues have now found that such mice also live 12–16% longer than control mice.
The mutant mice make less of a molecule called CGRP in the pancreas. This, in turn, boosts insulin secretion, improving the control of blood-sugar levels. Furthermore, treating aged mice with an inhibitor of CGRP made their metabolic profiles look more like those of younger animals.
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A longer life with less pain. Nature 509, 537 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/509537a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/509537a
