Seeking Advice on Issues Encountered During C. elegans Lifespan Assays

Dear Professors and Researchers,

I am a novice in C. elegans cultivation and recently began conducting lifespan assays. In my experiments, I used FUdR-supplemented NGM solid media to effectively suppress egg-laying in the worms. However, I encountered a problem on days 4 and 5: the worms developed large protrusions near the gonad region, and their overall vitality seemed to deteriorate significantly.

I would like to ask if anyone has experienced similar issues under these conditions. Are there potential modifications to this method that could improve the outcomes? Additionally, I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or best practices for conducting lifespan assays with C. elegans.

Thank you in advance for your insights and guidance!