The concentration-dependent effects of ethanol on Caenorhabditis elegans behaviour
The concentration-dependent effects of ethanol on Caenorhabditis elegans behaviour
The effects of ethanol on the brain are concentration dependent. Low concentrations (mM) intoxicate, while greater than 100 mM anaesthetize. Of most relevance to human alcohol addiction are mechanisms of intoxication. Previously, Caenorhabditis elegans has been employed in genetic screens to define effectors of intoxication. Here, we inform interpretation of these studies by providing evidence that ethanol rapidly equilibriates across C. elegans cuticle. Importantly, the effect of ethanol on muscle activity rapidly reaches steady-state, and the concentration-dependence of the effect is very similar in intact animals and exposed muscle. Thus the cuticle does not present an absorption barrier for ethanol, and furthermore the internal concentration is likely to approach that applied externally. Thus, modelling intoxication in C. elegans requires exposure to external ethanol less than 100 mM. Furthermore, the permeability of the cuticle to ethanol enables analysis of precisely controlled concentration-dependent effects of acute, chronic, and episodic ethanol exposure on behaviour.
EPG, electropharyngeogram
411-417
Mitchell, P.H.
165c5fcc-1ae9-4fd4-822f-7c4156f5de74
Bull, K.
a9291d1b-339f-4b4c-a510-17de496d96be
Glautier, S.
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Hopper, N.A.
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Holden-Dye, L.
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O'Connor, V.
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1 December 2007
Mitchell, P.H.
165c5fcc-1ae9-4fd4-822f-7c4156f5de74
Bull, K.
a9291d1b-339f-4b4c-a510-17de496d96be
Glautier, S.
964468b2-3ad7-40cc-b4be-e35c7dee518f
Hopper, N.A.
ddc67e10-c632-4400-9b27-a93de6baabd7
Holden-Dye, L.
8032bf60-5db6-40cb-b71c-ddda9d212c8e
O'Connor, V.
8021b06c-01a0-4925-9dde-a61c8fe278ca
Mitchell, P.H., Bull, K., Glautier, S., Hopper, N.A., Holden-Dye, L. and O'Connor, V.
(2007)
The concentration-dependent effects of ethanol on Caenorhabditis elegans behaviour.
The Pharmacogenomics Journal, 7 (6), .
(doi:10.1038/sj.tpj.6500440).
Abstract
The effects of ethanol on the brain are concentration dependent. Low concentrations (mM) intoxicate, while greater than 100 mM anaesthetize. Of most relevance to human alcohol addiction are mechanisms of intoxication. Previously, Caenorhabditis elegans has been employed in genetic screens to define effectors of intoxication. Here, we inform interpretation of these studies by providing evidence that ethanol rapidly equilibriates across C. elegans cuticle. Importantly, the effect of ethanol on muscle activity rapidly reaches steady-state, and the concentration-dependence of the effect is very similar in intact animals and exposed muscle. Thus the cuticle does not present an absorption barrier for ethanol, and furthermore the internal concentration is likely to approach that applied externally. Thus, modelling intoxication in C. elegans requires exposure to external ethanol less than 100 mM. Furthermore, the permeability of the cuticle to ethanol enables analysis of precisely controlled concentration-dependent effects of acute, chronic, and episodic ethanol exposure on behaviour.
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Published date: 1 December 2007
Keywords:
EPG, electropharyngeogram
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 56333
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/56333
ISSN: 1470-269X
PURE UUID: a97db076-585b-4baf-a113-dac368252c15
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Date deposited: 06 Aug 2008
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:13
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Author:
P.H. Mitchell
Author:
K. Bull
Author:
N.A. Hopper
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