DOPAMINE REGULATES SENSITIVITY OF CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS N2 AND CB1112 (CAT-2(E1112)II) STRAINS TO TOXIC ACTION OF LEAD NITRATE

Egorova A. V., Gatiyatullina A. F., Kalinnikova T. B.

Toxic action of Pb2+ ions on two C. elegans strains, namely wild type N2 strain and CB1112 (cat-2(e1112)II) strain which is lack of endogenous dopamine was investigated. Low sensitivity of cat-2 strain nematodes to toxic action of lead nitrate in the concentration range 0.25–1.0 mM in comparison with such of N2 strain made it possible to assume that the target of negative effects of lead nitrate on C. elegans organism is dopaminergic system. The most likely mechanism of disturbances of dopaminergic system functions by Pb2+ ions may be a disturbance of dopamine synthesis by dopaminergic neurons. This assumption is verified by the repair of the ability to swimming of N2 strain nematodes under joint action of lead nitrate and dopamine. The absence of therapeutic dopamine effect on locomotion of nematodes of cat-2 strain disturbed by lead nitrate may be associated with specific functioning of neuronal circuit, which regulates C. elegans locomotion, in the absence of dopamine.

Keywords:Caenorhabditis elegans, lead ions, dopamine, neurotoxicity, behavior