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Screening test for neurotoxins using Caenorhabditis elegans.

Authors
Dusenbery DB
Source
School of Applied Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, 1987 May; :1-9
Link
NIOSHTIC No.
00182750
Abstract
A screening test was proposed for neurotoxins using a computer tracking system and Caenorhabditis-elegans, a species of nematode. Simultaneous tracking of several hundred nematodes, recording their rates of locomotion and frequency of direction change were reported in real time. Reliable data on a variety of behavioral parameters relating to locomotion and response to sensory stimulation were obtained. The effects on locomotion caused by copper (7440508), beryllium (7440417), mercury (7439976), lead (7439921), malathion (121755), and vapona (62737) were studied. Copper and beryllium were not known to be neurotoxins. The rate of movement of exposed nematodes compared to the rate of movement of vehicle controls indicated that this test can be used as an indicator of neurotoxicity. Acute lethality studies were also performed with mercuric-chloride (7487947), beryllium-sulfate (13510491), aluminum- nitrate (13473900), cupric-chloride (7447394), zinc-chloride (7646857), lead-nitrate (10099748), cadmium-chloride (10108642), and strontium-nitrate (10042769). C-elegans was able to predict mammalian acute lethality by generating median lethal dose levels which were comparable to those obtained with the rat and mouse. The cost of this type of test was about 10 percent of the cost involved in using mammalian testing programs.
Keywords
NIOSH-Grant; Neurotoxic-effects; Bioassays; Neuropathology; Neurotoxicity; Screening-methods; Animal-studies
Contact
School of Biology Georgia Inst of Technology Atlanta, GA 30332
CAS No.
7440-50-8; 7440-41-7; 7439-97-6; 7439-92-1; 121-75-5; 62-73-7; 7487-94-7; 13510-49-1; 13473-90-0; 7447-39-4; 7646-85-7; 10099-74-8; 10108-64-2; 10042-76-9
Publication Date
19870501
Document Type
Final Grant Report
Funding Amount
31689
Funding Type
Grant
Fiscal Year
1987
NTIS Accession No.
PB89-130025
NTIS Price
A02
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R03-OH-02095
NIOSH Division
OEP
Priority Area
Neurotoxic Disorders; Neurotoxic-effects
Source Name
School of Applied Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
State
GA
Performing Organization
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
Page last reviewed: May 11, 2023
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division