Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage have long been suggested as critically important mechanisms underlying the ageing process in animals. However, conflicting data exist on whether this involves increased production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) during ageing. We employed high‐resolution respirometry and fluorometry on flight muscle (pectoralis major) and liver mitochondria to simultaneously examine...

Modulation of the ageing process by dietary restriction (DR) across multiple taxa is well established. While the exact mechanism through which DR acts remains elusive, the gasotransmitter hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S) may play an important role. We employed a comparative-type approach using females from three ILSXISS recombinant inbred mouse strains previously reported to show differential lifespan responses following 40% DR. Foll...

There is renewed focus on the ecological determinants of animal metabolism and recent comparative analyses support the physiological expectation that the field metabolic rate (FMR) of homeotherms should increase with declining ambient temperature. However, sustained elevation of FMR during prolonged, seasonal cold could be prevented by intrinsic limits constraining FMR to some multiple of basal metabolic rate (BMR) or extrinsi...