Heterochronic parabiosis: historical perspective and methodological considerations for studies of aging and longevity
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Summary: Pairing two animals in parabiosis to test for systemic or circulatory factors from one animal affecting the other animal has been used in scientific studies for at least 150 years. These studies have led to advances in fields as diverse as endocrinology, immunology, and oncology. A variation on the technique, heterochronic parabiosis, whereby two animals of different ages are joined to test for systemic regulators of aspects of aging or age‐related diseases also has almost a century‐long scientific history. In this review, we focus on the history of heterochronic parabiosis, methodological considerations and caveats, and the major advances that have emerged from those studies, including recent advances in our understanding of stem cell aging.
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Heterochronic parabiosis, which surgically joins the circulation of young and old small animals, has identified systemic factors in young blood that can improve the function of several aged organs, including liver, muscle, heart, and brain.
“Over the past few decades, heterochronic parabiosis, a process by which young and old small animals are surgically connected by establishing a joined circulation, identified systemic factors that are present in young blood and can ameliorate the function of several aged organs, including liver, muscle, heart and brain267.”
From Cellular senescence in ageing: from mechanisms to therapeutic opportunities (2021) · cites this paper as [267]
The Introduction and historical-perspective section describe surgically joined young and old rodents sharing a circulation and report improved regenerative potential in aged cells exposed to youthful influences. Future perspectives discusses circulating factors with anti-aging effects. However, the paper does not establish improved function in all four organs listed: it references liver research and brain-related findings, but does not substantiate the claimed benefit to the aged heart. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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- Authors
- Conboy, M. J., Conboy, I. M., & Rando, T. A.
- Affiliations
- QB3 (US)
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System (US)
- Corresponding author
- Rando, Thomas A.
- Venue
- Aging Cell
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2013-04-10
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 525-530
- ISSN
- 1474-9718 (ISSN-L)
- 1474-9726
- PMC
- PMC4072458
- OpenAlex
- W2007193535
- Cited by
- 265
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 1.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Aging Cell (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (P01AG036695)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Keywords
- heterochronic parabiosis, aging, longevity, age-related diseases, systemic factors, stem cell aging, methodological considerations
- MeSH terms
- Age Factors, Aging, Animals, Longevity, Parabiosis, Stem Cells, Cellular Senescence
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