Chemosensory behavior of semi-restrained Caenorhabditis elegans.
A new behavioral assay is described for studying chemosensation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. This assay presents three main characteristics: (1) the worm is restrained by gluing, preserving correlates of identifiable behaviors; (2) the amplitude and time course of the stimulus are controlled by the experimenter; and (3) the behavior is recorded quantitatively. We show that restrained C. elegans display behaviors comparable to those of freely moving worms. Moreover, the chemosensory response of wild-type glued animals to changes in salt concentration is similar to that of freely moving animals. This glued-worm assay was used to reveal new chemosensory deficits of the potassium channel mutant egl-2. We conclude that the glued worm assay can be used to study the chemosensory regulation of C. elegans behavior and how it is affected by neuronal or genetic manipulations.
Faumont
Serge
S
Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA.
Miller
Adam C
AC
Lockery
Shawn R
SR
D000269:Adhesives; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012965:Sodium Chloride
D000269:Adhesives; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; D012965:Sodium Chloride