Biomaterial Database

Effects of metal exposure on associative learning behavior in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. 2010

Yanfen Zhang, and Boping Ye, and Dayong Wang

Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Southeast University Medical School, Nanjing, China.

In the present study, the thermotaxis model was used to evaluate the effects of metal exposure at different concentrations on associative learning behavior in nematodes. The examined nematodes were cultured at 25 or 17 degrees C, and then shifted to 20 degrees C condition. Based on the ability of nematodes to trace the temperature of 20 degrees C, exposure to 10 microM of all examined metals and 2.5 microM Pb and Hg caused significant decrease of associative learning behavior at time intervals of 5 and 18 h; however, exposure to 2.5 microM Cu, Zn, and Ag did not influence associative learning behavior. Moreover, exposure to 2.5 and 10 microM of examined metals did not influence body bend and thermotaxis to cultivation temperature, whereas exposure to 50 microM of examined metals caused significant reduction of body bend and thermotaxis to cultivation temperature. Furthermore, Pb and Hg were the more toxic among the examined metals, with severe toxicity on associative learning behavior, thermotaxis, and locomotion behavior in nematodes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007854	Lead	A soft, grayish metal with poisonous salts; atomic number 82, atomic weight 207.2, symbol Pb.
D008124	Locomotion	Movement or the ability to move from one place or another. It can refer to humans, vertebrate or invertebrate animals, and microorganisms.	Locomotor Activity,Activities, Locomotor,Activity, Locomotor,Locomotor Activities
D008628	Mercury	A silver metallic element that exists as a liquid at room temperature. It has the atomic symbol Hg (from hydrargyrum, liquid silver), atomic number 80, and atomic weight 200.59. Mercury is used in many industrial applications and its salts have been employed therapeutically as purgatives, antisyphilitics, disinfectants, and astringents. It can be absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes which leads to MERCURY POISONING. Because of its toxicity, the clinical use of mercury and mercurials is diminishing.
D008670	Metals	Electropositive chemical elements characterized by ductility, malleability, luster, and conductance of heat and electricity. They can replace the hydrogen of an acid and form bases with hydroxyl radicals. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Metal
D003300	Copper	A heavy metal trace element with the atomic symbol Cu, atomic number 29, and atomic weight 63.55.	Copper-63,Copper 63
D004305	Dose-Response Relationship, Drug	The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug.	Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001245	Association Learning	The principle that items experienced together enter into a connection, so that one tends to reinstate the other.	Association Learnings,Learning, Association,Learnings, Association
D001522	Behavior, Animal	The observable response an animal makes to any situation.	Autotomy Animal,Animal Behavior,Animal Behaviors
D012834	Silver	An element with the atomic symbol Ag, atomic number 47, and atomic weight 107.87. It is a soft metal that is used medically in surgical instruments, dental prostheses, and alloys. Long-continued use of silver salts can lead to a form of poisoning known as ARGYRIA.