Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
10
pubmed:dateCreated
1995-12-4
pubmed:abstractText
We have investigated the neurotransmitters used to control egg-laying in C. elegans. Previous studies suggested that 5-HT released by the HSN motor neurons stimulates egg laying, and that tricyclic antidepressants potentiate egg laying by blocking reuptake of 5-HT by the HSN neurons. We report studies of the wild type and a mutant that lacks detectable 5-HT that suggest 5-HT is not required for egg-laying. Furthermore, we find that ACh is required for egg laying in response to 5-HT, suggesting that 5-HT is not sufficient to activate egg laying. The dominant egl-2(n693) mutation, which causes animals to lay eggs in response to tricyclics but not 5-HT, also conflicts with the model for egg laying. Experiments in which the HSN neurons or 5-HT are removed from egl-2 animals indicate that the action of tricyclics cannot be explained by a block of 5-HT reuptake. We find that D2 family dopamine antagonists can also induce egg laying in egl-2(n693) mutants, and that dopamine inhibits egg laying in the wild type. These results suggest that dominant egl-2 mutations activate an inhibitory dopaminergic pathway that can be blocked by tricyclics and D2 antagonists. We also find that these drugs stimulate egg laying in mutants lacking 5-HT or the HSN neurons, consistent with a target on the egg-laying muscles. In contrast to tricyclics, fluoxetine and other selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors appear to be specific for 5-HT reuptake in C. elegans egg laying.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
0270-6474
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
15
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
6975-85
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1995
pubmed:articleTitle
Genetic and pharmacological analysis of neurotransmitters controlling egg laying in C. elegans.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle 98195-7360, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.