TY - JOUR
T1 - C. elegans multi-dendritic sensory neurons
T2 - Morphology and function
AU - Albeg, Adi
AU - Smith, Cody J.
AU - Chatzigeorgiou, Marios
AU - Feitelson, Dror G.
AU - Hall, David H.
AU - Schafer, William R.
AU - Miller, David M.
AU - Treinin, Millet
PY - 2011/1
Y1 - 2011/1
N2 - PVD and FLP sensory neurons envelope the body of the C. elegans adult with a highly branched network of thin sensory processes. Both PVD and FLP neurons are mechanosensors. PVD is known to mediate the response to high threshold mechanical stimuli. Thus PVD and FLP neurons are similar in both morphology and function to mammalian nociceptors. To better understand the function of these neurons we generated strains lacking them. Behavioral analysis shows that PVD and FLP regulate movement under normal growth conditions, as animals lacking these neurons demonstrate higher dwelling behavior. In addition, PVD-whose thin branches project across the body-wall muscles-may have a role in proprioception, as ablation of PVD leads to defective posture. Moreover, movement-dependent calcium transients are seen in PVD, a response that requires MEC-10, a subunit of the mechanosensory DEG/ENaC channel that is also required for maintaining wild-type posture. Hence, PVD senses both noxious and innocuous signals to regulate C. elegans behavior, and thus combines the functions of multiple mammalian somatosensory neurons. Finally, strong mechanical stimulation leads to inhibition of egg-laying, and this response also depends on PVD and FLP neurons. Based on all these results we suggest that noxious signals perceived by PVD and FLP promote an escape behavior consisting of increased speed, reduced pauses and reversals, and inhibition of egg-laying.
AB - PVD and FLP sensory neurons envelope the body of the C. elegans adult with a highly branched network of thin sensory processes. Both PVD and FLP neurons are mechanosensors. PVD is known to mediate the response to high threshold mechanical stimuli. Thus PVD and FLP neurons are similar in both morphology and function to mammalian nociceptors. To better understand the function of these neurons we generated strains lacking them. Behavioral analysis shows that PVD and FLP regulate movement under normal growth conditions, as animals lacking these neurons demonstrate higher dwelling behavior. In addition, PVD-whose thin branches project across the body-wall muscles-may have a role in proprioception, as ablation of PVD leads to defective posture. Moreover, movement-dependent calcium transients are seen in PVD, a response that requires MEC-10, a subunit of the mechanosensory DEG/ENaC channel that is also required for maintaining wild-type posture. Hence, PVD senses both noxious and innocuous signals to regulate C. elegans behavior, and thus combines the functions of multiple mammalian somatosensory neurons. Finally, strong mechanical stimulation leads to inhibition of egg-laying, and this response also depends on PVD and FLP neurons. Based on all these results we suggest that noxious signals perceived by PVD and FLP promote an escape behavior consisting of increased speed, reduced pauses and reversals, and inhibition of egg-laying.
KW - Behavior
KW - C. elegans
KW - Movement
KW - Nociceptor
KW - Proprioceptor
KW - Somatosensory system
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78650882583&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78650882583&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.mcn.2010.10.001
DO - 10.1016/j.mcn.2010.10.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 20971193
AN - SCOPUS:78650882583
VL - 46
SP - 308
EP - 317
JO - Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
JF - Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
SN - 1044-7431
IS - 1
ER -