Short-term nicotine exposure induces long-lasting modulation of gustatory plasticity in Caenorhabditis elegans.

ABSTRACT: Nicotine administration induces many effects on animal behavior. In wild-type Caenorhabditis elegans, gustatory plasticity results in reduced chemotaxis toward NaCl of otherwise attractive concentrations after pre-exposure to 100 mM NaCl in the absence of food. However, acute nicotine administration during a 15 min pre-exposure period inhibits gustatory plasticity, whereas chronic nicotine administration during worm development facilitates the plasticity. To investigate the relationship between the duration of nicotine administration and its effects, we exposed worms to nicotine for various periods during development. The modulatory effect of nicotine on gustatory plasticity was gradually switched from inhibition to facilitation with increased duration of nicotine administration. Mo

SUBMITTER: Urushihata T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5613740 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature