硫柳汞对秀丽隐杆线虫神经行为及生长发育的影响

The effect of thimerosal on the behavior and growth in C. elegans during larval stage

目的通过研究硫柳汞对秀丽隐杆线虫(简称线虫)幼虫神经行为及生长发育的影响,初步探讨硫柳汞对线虫的神经发育毒性。方法采用L1期线虫,以0~140μmol/L或0~5μmol/L硫柳汞分别暴露48 h,检测其半数致死浓度(LC50),分别考察其对线虫运动行为、感知行为、摄食行为及生长发育(体长、体宽)的影响。结果与溶剂对照组比较,线虫幼虫暴露于硫柳汞48 h后,其运动行为(头部摆动和身体弯曲)、感知行为(趋向和趋避)和摄食行为(咽泵震动)均有显著改变(P<0.05)。此外,硫柳汞显著抑制线虫的生长发育,并且这种抑制作用具有剂量-效应关系。结论硫柳汞对线虫幼虫神经行为及生长发育产生不良影响,其毒性机制有待深入研究。

Objective To investigate the effect of thimerosal on behavior and growth by studying the developmental neurotoxicity of thimerosal in Caenorhabditis elegans （C. elegans） during larval stage. Methods The C. elegans were exposed to 0 - 140 μmol/L or 0 - 5 μmol/L of thimerosal for 48 h from L1 larvae, then the half of the lethal concentration （ LCs0 ） , the behaviors including locomotion, sensory, and feeding, as well as body length, body width were measured. Result There were significant changes in the locomotion behavior （ head thrashing and body bending rates ） , sensory behavior （ ehemotaxis index ） and feeding behavior （ pharyngeal pumping rate ） of thiomersal on C, elegans （ P 〈 0. 05 ） , compared to the solvent control. Thimerosal signifieantly inhibited the growth and development of C. elegans in a dose-response manner （ P 〈 0. 05 ）. Conclusion Thimerosal had significant impacts on the behavior and development of C. elegans during larval stage. The developmental neurotoxieity mechanism of the thimerosal should be further studied.