Senescence, an Inherent Property of Animal Cells

Abstract

Two main groups of opinions regarding senescence may be distinguished, one, which considers senescence as a phenomenon appearing in the multicellular body as a whole, the other, as an inherent property of the cells. Evidence is presented to support the latter view. Animal cells exhibit properties similar to those of colloids in general with regard to the various phenomena of ageing, such as loss of adsorptive power, hydration tendency, stability, etc. Further examples show that the body cells decrease their activity with time much as chemical catalysts lose their activity. The shortening of the life period of animal cells by increase of temp. resembles the rapid loss of reactivity and stability of catalysts at higher temp. In a manner similar to the long life period of sluggish catalysts as compared to the short life of more active ones, there is to be observed a shortening of the life of animal cells with increase of their activity. The longevity of the individual cell then varies inversely as the rate of energy expenditure in metabolism.