Neuronal damage induced by nanopolystyrene particles in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 2591-2601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Man Qu ◽  
Yan Kong ◽  
Yujie Yuan ◽  
Dayong Wang

Our observations highlight the potential of nanoplastics in inducing damage on both development and functions of nervous system after long-term exposure.

2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (04) ◽  
pp. 182-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Mendler ◽  
A. Schlotterer ◽  
M. Morcos ◽  
P. Nawroth

AbstractPathogenesis of late diabetic complications is influenced by a complex interplay of multiple exogenous and intrinsic factors. The well characterised nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an ideal model to study causes of diabetic polyneuropathy because of its easily accessible nervous system. A repertoire of methods allows the assessment of both morphological and functional glucotoxic damages as well as reduction of lifespan, thereby helping to examine the influence of different pathways and mechanisms on neurodegeneration. Its insulin signalling system allows to directly visualize effects of insulin on high glucose induced neuronal damage, leading to a better understanding of diabetic polyneuropathy.


Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 993
Author(s):  
Yuri Lee ◽  
Hyeseon Jeong ◽  
Kyung Hwan Park ◽  
Kyung Won Kim

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an essential cofactor that mediates numerous biological processes in all living cells. Multiple NAD+ biosynthetic enzymes and NAD+-consuming enzymes are involved in neuroprotection and axon regeneration. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has served as a model to study the neuronal role of NAD+ because many molecular components regulating NAD+ are highly conserved. This review focuses on recent findings using C. elegans models of neuronal damage pertaining to the neuronal functions of NAD+ and its precursors, including a neuroprotective role against excitotoxicity and axon degeneration as well as an inhibitory role in axon regeneration. The regulation of NAD+ levels could be a promising therapeutic strategy to counter many neurodegenerative diseases, as well as neurotoxin-induced and traumatic neuronal damage.


2008 ◽  
Vol 183 (5) ◽  
pp. 881-892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingyu Gu ◽  
Kim Schuske ◽  
Shigeki Watanabe ◽  
Qiang Liu ◽  
Paul Baum ◽  
...  

Synaptic vesicles must be recycled to sustain neurotransmission, in large part via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Clathrin is recruited to endocytic sites on the plasma membrane by the AP2 adaptor complex. The medium subunit (μ2) of AP2 binds to cargo proteins and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate on the cell surface. Here, we characterize the apm-2 gene (also called dpy-23), which encodes the only μ2 subunit in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. APM-2 is highly expressed in the nervous system and is localized to synapses; yet specific loss of APM-2 in neurons does not affect locomotion. In apm-2 mutants, clathrin is mislocalized at synapses, and synaptic vesicle numbers and evoked responses are reduced to 60 and 65%, respectively. Collectively, these data suggest AP2 μ2 facilitates but is not essential for synaptic vesicle recycling.


2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1666) ◽  
pp. 20140309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott W. Emmons

The article ‘Structure of the nervous system of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans ' (aka ‘The mind of a worm’) by White et al. , published for the first time the complete set of synaptic connections in the nervous system of an animal. The work was carried out as part of a programme to begin to understand how genes determine the structure of a nervous system and how a nervous system creates behaviour. It became a major stimulus to the field of C. elegans research, which has since contributed insights into all areas of biology. Twenty-six years elapsed before developments, notably more powerful computers, made new studies of this kind possible. It is hoped that one day knowledge of synaptic structure, the connectome , together with results of many other investigations, will lead to an understanding of the human brain. This commentary was written to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society .


The structure and connectivity of the nervous system of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been deduced from reconstructions of electron micrographs of serial sections. The hermaphrodite nervous system has a total complement of 302 neurons, which are arranged in an essentially invariant structure. Neurons with similar morphologies and connectivities have been grouped together into classes; there are 118 such classes. Neurons have simple morphologies with few, if any, branches. Processes from neurons run in defined positions within bundles of parallel processes, synaptic connections being made en passant . Process bundles are arranged longitudinally and circumferentially and are often adjacent to ridges of hypodermis. Neurons are generally highly locally connected, making synaptic connections with many of their neighbours. Muscle cells have arms that run out to process bundles containing motoneuron axons. Here they receive their synaptic input in defined regions along the surface of the bundles, where motoneuron axons reside. Most of the m orphologically identifiable synaptic connections in a typical animal are described. These consist of about 5000 chemical synapses, 2000 neuromuscular junctions and 600 gap junctions.


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