The Caenorhabditis elegans neuroendocrine system and their modulators: An overview.

In this review we seek to systematically bring what has been published in the literature about the nervous system, endocrine system, neuroendocrine relationships, neuroendocrine modulations and endocrine disruptors in the alternative model Caenorhabditis elegans. The serotonergic, dopaminergic, GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmitters are related to the modulation of the neuroendocrine axis, leading to the activation or inhibition of several processes that occur in the worm through distinct and interconnected pathways. Furthermore, this review addresses the gut-neuronal axis as it has been revealed in recent years that gut microbiota impacts on neuronal functions. This review also approaches xenobiotics that can positively or negatively impact the neuroendocrine system in C. elegans as in mammals, which allows the application of this nematode to screen new drugs and to identify toxicants that are endocrine disruptors.

The impact of manganese on neurotransmitter systems.

BACKGROUND: Manganese (Mn) is a metal ubiquitously present in nature and essential for many living organisms. As a trace element, it is required in small amounts for the proper functioning of several important enzymes, and reports of Mn deficiency are indeed rare. METHODS: This mini-review will cover aspects of Mn toxicokinetics and its impact on brain neurotransmission, as well as its Janus-faced effects on humans and other animal's health. RESULTS: The estimated safe upper limit of intracellular Mn for physiological function is in anarrow range of 20-53 µM.Therefore, intake of higher levels of Mn and the outcomes, especially to the nervous system, have been well documented. CONCLUSION: The metal affects mostly the brain by accumulating in specific areas, altering cognitive functions and locomotion, thus severely impacting the health of the exposed organisms.

Butiá fruit extract (Butia eriospatha) protects against oxidative damage and increases lifespan on Caenorhabditis elegans.

Butiá (Butia eriospatha) is a fruit of a palm tree belonging to the family Arecaceae, native to South America. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of butiá extract using Caenorhabditis elegans as animal model. Initially, we performed survival experiments, reproduction, resistance to oxidative stress (post or pre-treatment with paraquat or hydrogen peroxide), longevity, superoxide dismutase, and catalase GFP reporters' expression. We observed that butiá extract did not affect the worms' survival. Similarly, egg laying also showed no significant difference between treatments. None of the extract concentrations tested was able to significantly protect or reverse paraquat-induced oxidative stress. However, they were able to reverse the oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide. In addition, butiá extract increased C. elegans lifespan under stress and not per se. Our results demonstrate that the Butiá is able to extend the lifespan of the nematode C. elegans and that this effect may be mediated by an induced resistance to oxidative stress. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The practical applications of this research are to expand and bring scientific knowledge to the population about the benefits of the consumption of this native fruit from the southern region of Brazil. Many fruits and other plant foods are consumed and spread with benefits without proper scientific proof of these benefits. This fruit is widely cultivated and its production and consumption can be expanded from these results. Still, we point out that this is the first time that the benefits of this fruit are studied.

Organoselenotriazoles attenuate oxidative damage induced by mitochondrial dysfunction in mev-1 Caenorhabditis elegans mutants.

Organic selenium compounds have several pharmacological activities already described, as anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities, which have been attributed to their antioxidant effects. Because they are promising in pharmacology, the synthesis of these compounds has increased significantly. As many new molecules are synthesized the use of a simple model like Caenorhabditis elegans is highly advantageous for initial evaluation of the toxicity and therapeutic potential of these molecules. The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity and antioxidant capacity of a series of selenotriazoles compounds in C. elegans. The animals were exposed to the compounds in liquid medium for only 30 min at the first larval stage (L1). The compounds had no toxic effects at the concentrations tested. Treatment with selenotriazoles (10 µM) partially reversed the stress induced by the pesticide paraquat (1 mM). Se-Tz Ia compound partially increased the survival of worms treated with H2O2 (0.5 mM). The compounds also increased the longevity of mev-1 mutants, which have a reduced life span by the production of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the mitochondria caused by a mutation in complex II of the electron transport chain. In addition, the compounds reduced the levels of ROS determined by the fluorescent probe DCF-DA as well as also reduced catalase enzyme activity in these animals. Based on the results found, it is possible to conclude that the compounds have antioxidant activity mainly in oxidative stress condition generated by a mitochondrial dysfunction in C. elegans.