A Simple Apparatus for Individual C. elegans Culture.

We miniaturized standard, solid-phase C. elegans culture conditions to produce a system in which many isolated, individual C. elegans can be housed throughout their lives. This system, the "worm corral," is compatible with high-resolution brightfield and fluorescent microscopy, allowing imaging of fluorescent transgenes and morphological phenotypes from hatch until death. These culture devices can be constructed on the benchtop with commercially available reagents and standard laboratory equipment, making this an attainable solution for most labs.

Effect of treatment with cadmium on kinetic properties of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase and glucose-6-phosphatase activity in rat liver microsomes a correlative study on influence of lipid/phospholipid make-up.

Studies on Cd hepatotoxicity have focused mainly on induction of cytochrome P(450) system and related enzymes. In the present study young adult male rats given a single intra-peritoneal injection of Cd (0.84mg Cd/kg body weight) and effects on kinetic parameters rat liver microsomal Na(+), K(+)-ATPase and G6Pase were evaluated at the end of 1 month and 1 week. The substrate and temperature kinetics parameters were examined and attempts were made to seek correlation with changes in lipid/phospholipid profiles. The Na(+), K(+) ATPase activity decreased only in 1 week Cd-treated group but recovered at the end of 1 month. The activity resolved in two distinct kinetic components in control as well as the experimental groups. In 1 week Cd-treated group the K(m) value of both the components was unchanged, whereas V(max) value decreased. In 1-month Cd-treated group V(max) value only of component I increased. The catalytic efficiency of both the components was not affected in the experimental groups. In 1-week Cd-treated group the energy of activations at high-temperature range (E(H)) and low-temperature range (E(L)) decreased, whereas for 1-month Cd-treated group the energies of activations did not change. The G6Pase activity measured at 37 degrees C was high only in 1-month Cd-treated group. The activity resolved in two kinetically distinguishable components in control as well as in the experimental groups. K(m) value of component I decreased in both the Cd-treated groups. In 1-month Cd-treated group the V(max) value of component II increased. The catalytic efficiency of G6Pase was unchanged despite changes in K(m) and V(max). In 1-week Cd-treated group the E(H) and E(L) decreased, whereas only E(L) showed decrease in 1-month Cd-treated group. Cholesterol (CHL) content increased in both the Cd-treated groups. Content of lysophospholipid (Lyso), spinghomyelin (SPM) and phosphatidic acid (PA) increased, whereas phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylserine (PS) decreased in 1-week Cd-treated group. In 1-month Cd group the Lyso, SPM, and PC increased while PC, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and PA decreased. In conclusion, Cd has short-term effects on microsomal Na(+), K(+)-ATPase which are reversed by the end of 1 month and that G6Pase does not seem to be a target of Cd insult.