Hello!
First, sorry for my introductory level question. Next, I was wondering what are some good dependent variables for a c.elegans experiment that is aiming to induce neurodegeneration in C.elegans. Originally I was planning on counting headtwitches (a lack of dopamine should cause faster twitching), response to a tap on the head, and response to tapping of the petri-dish. Any other suggestions?
Thanks for your time.
Hi,
there’s a good deal of literature to read through on this topic on the internet, including some excellent reviews;
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3140532/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2926245/
there are also a number of papers that have utilised ‘neurodegeneration’ assays;
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2926296/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3253614/
The assays you mention involving mechanical stimulation require a great deal of patience, accuracy, skill and decent equipment if they are to be reproducible within and across experiments. Locomotion assays, or assessment of neuron structure/integrity might be a better option?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC187908/
Steve