Laser microbeam studies of role of amphid receptors in chemosensory behavior of nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans

Responses of plant-parasitic nematodeMeloidogyne incognita to carbon dioxide determined by video camera-computer tracking

A computer tracking system was used to quantify the responses of infective second-stage juveniles of the plant-parasitic nematodeMeloidogyne incognita to carbon dioxide. A sudden increase in concentration caused an increase in the rate of locomotion and a decrease in the frequency of changes of direction. The threshold was about 0.01 % vol CO2/vol gas when the baseline concentration was very low and 0.05% CO2 when the baseline concentration was 1% CO2. The latter value represents a relative change of 5%. Concentrations above 10% CO2 caused a general decrease in movement. In a second type of experiment, a constant concentration gradient of CO2 was established, and the net movement of the nematodes along the gradient was determined. At low concentrations, the threshold was about 0.02% CO2/cm. At higher concentrations, the threshold gradient was below 0.01% CO2/cm or a relative gradient of less than 1% change/cm. At all concentrations to which nematodes responded they were attracted. The degree of orientation was estimated to be approximately 10% under most conditions. The rate of migration under the most favorable conditions was about 0.7 cm/hr. Three possible functions of the response are discussed: attraction to roots, movement toward optimal depth in soil, and as a collimating stimulus.

Imaging in vivo neuronal transport in genetic model organisms using microfluidic devices

Microfluidic devices have been developed for imaging behavior and various cellular processes in Caenorhabditis elegans, but not subcellular processes requiring high spatial resolution. In neurons, essential processes such as axonal, dendritic, intraflagellar and other long-distance transport can be studied by acquiring fast time-lapse images of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged moving cargo. We have achieved two important goals in such in vivo studies namely, imaging several transport processes in unanesthetized intact animals and imaging very early developmental stages. We describe a microfluidic device for immobilizing C. elegans and Drosophila larvae that allows imaging without anesthetics or dissection. We observed that for certain neuronal cargoes in C. elegans, anesthetics have significant and sometimes unexpected effects on the flux. Further, imaging the transport of certain cargo in early developmental stages was possible only in the microfluidic device. Using our device we observed an increase in anterograde synaptic vesicle transport during development corresponding with synaptic growth. We also imaged Q neuroblast divisions and mitochondrial transport during early developmental stages of C. elegans and Drosophila, respectively. Our simple microfluidic device offers a useful means to image high-resolution subcellular processes in C. elegans and Drosophila and can be readily adapted to other transparent or translucent organisms.

Sensory regulation of male mating behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans

C. elegans male mating behavior comprises a series of steps: response to contact with the hermaphrodite, backing along her body, turning around her head or tail, location of the vulva, insertion of the two copulatory spicules into the vulva, and sperm transfer. By ablation of male-specific copulatory structures and their associated neurons, we have identified sensory structures and neurons that participate in each of these steps: the sensory rays mediate response to contact and turning; the hook, the postcloacal sensilla, and the spicules mediate vulva location; the spicules also mediate spicule insertion and regulate sperm transfer. Generally, successful completion of each step places the male in a position to receive a cue for the next step in the pathway. However, the high degree of sensory regulation allows the male to execute some steps independently.

Peripheral sensilla of some lower invertebrates: the Platyhelminthes and Nematoda

The flatworms (Platyhelminthes) and the round worms (Nematoda) are phyla exhibiting strikingly different levels of cellular organization. In both, sensilla are composed of the endings of sensory dendrites intercalated into their epidermis. In flatworms, sensilla that penetrate the syncytial epidermis bear sensory processes derived from cilia. In free-living species, the sensory processes more closely resemble motile cilia, while in parasites, greater deviations occur from the classical cilium pattern. Estimates of the function of the various sensilla have been largely arbitrary, and remain based on ultrastructural features. Sensilla in round worms lie below or within a heavy secreted cuticle. Two glia-like cell types occur. The socket cell mediates contact with cuticle and is responsible for cuticular modifications essential for operation of the sensillum. The sheath cell forms a receptor cavity around the sensory processes and regulates its environment. Sensory processes vary greatly from the classical cilium pattern. Absence of a basal body, but preservation of a ciliary necklace, suggests that the latter has a primary importance in sensory transduction. Estimates of function are based largely on ultrastructural features and analogies to arthropod sensilla. Genetic studies with the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis are beginning to demonstrate details of function and development. Speculations on the roles of basal bodies, rootlets, and vesicles and on the significance of recessed sensilla are given.

Chemosensory stimuli in feeding behavior of the leech Hirudo medicinalis

The involvement of chemotherapy stimuli in the feeding behavior of the blood-sucking leech Hirudo medicinalis was investigated using a behavioral feeding test in which test solutions were encased in a highly permeable membrane and presented to the leech. Whole human blood or plasma at ambient temperature elicited the complete sequence of feeding behavior: probing, attachment, biting and ingestion. Spring water, 300 mM sucrose, or dialyzed plasma did not elicit any of these responses. Spring water warmed to 38 degrees C elicited probing and transient attachment but not ingestion. Thus, appropriate chemical stimuli were necessary for complete feeding behavior. A chemically defined artificial blood mix, containing the major components of low molecular weight found in blood, elicited all aspects of leech feeding behavior. Eliminating either NaCl or arginine from the mix resulted in complete loss of effectiveness. Moreover, a solution containing only NaCl (150 mM) and arginine (90 microM) was also an effective feeding stimulus. Thus, appropriate chemical stimuli are sufficient for complete feeding behavior. Neither NaCl nor arginine alone induced feeding although NaCl alone elicited probing. Sensory detection of blood was localized to a region of the dorsal lip that contains structures composed of ciliated, bipolar neurons, which are likely candidates as chemoreceptors. Surgical ablation of this region of the skin resulted in complete loss of ability to alert to, orient toward and ingest blood, while sham-operated controls fed normally. Substitution with other ions revealed specificity, with respect to both the cation and the anion, in the response to NaCl. Of the inorganic and organic cations tested, only Li+ substituted effectively for Na+. Of the inorganic and organic anions tested, only Br- was as effective as Cl-. Thus, the requirement for NaCl in leech feeding represents more than simply an ionic strength requirement or a requirement for Na+ ions and bears similarities to the chemosensory detection of NaCl in other species. Substitution with other amino acids and analogues for arginine revealed marked specificity in the feeding response to this compound as well. D-arginine at concentrations of up to 1000-fold greater than the effective threshold for L-arginine did not elicit ingestion, nor did other common L-amino acids, including the other basic amino acids histidine and lysine. Of the arginine analogues tested, only homoarginine and canavanine (in which all three functional groups of arginine are unchanged) were effective feeding stimulants.