Table 3Drugs and their effects on C. elegans

DrugMammalian / invertebrate targetsC. elegans targetsaEffects of drugs on wild-type C. elegans
DopamineDopamine receptorsDOP-1, DOP-310, 28Inhibits locomotion1, 13, 10. Inhibits egg laying1, 2. Inhibits defecation2, 13. Increases frequency of high-angled turns25.
SerotoninSerotonin receptorsSER-126, 27, SER-226, 5, MOD-517 MOD-113, 14Inhibits locomotion11, 3, 13. Inhibits defecation2, 11. Stimulates pharyngeal pumping11, 3, 8, 6 (in the absence of food). Stimulates egg laying2, 3, 7, 12. Causes male tail curling4. Causes reduced sensitivity to aldicarb-induced paralysis21. Stimulates vulval muscle calcium transients22. Inhibits HSN calcium transients22. Inhibits olfactory adaptation24.
OctopamineOctopamine receptorsCauses uncoordinated locomotion3. Inhibits pharyngeal pumping3, 8, 6 (in the presence of food or 5-HT). Inhibits egg laying3, 11 (in the presence of food or 5-HT). Inhibits defecation2, 3.
TyramineTyramine receptorsSER-25Inhibits egg laying (5, 9) (in the presence of food or 5-HT).
QuinpiroleDopamine receptors (agonist)Inhibits locomotion11. Inhibits egg laying11.
ChlorpromazineD2 receptors (antagonist)Stimulates egg laying2.
RacloprideDopamine receptors (antagonist)Blocks the effects of dopamine on turning frequency25. Eliminates area-restricted search behavior25
α-methyl 5-HTSerotonin receptors (agonist)SER-129Stimulates egg laying23.
MethiothepinSerotonin receptors (antagonist)MOD-114Blocks 5-HT-induced inhibition of locomotion13. Causes defects in enhanced slowing13. Causes hypersensitivity to aldicarb-induced paralysis21.
MianserinSerotonin receptors (antagonist)MOD-114Blocks 5-HT-induced inhibition of locomotion13. Causes defects in enhanced slowing13.
GramineSerotonin receptors (antagonist)Inhibits pharyngeal pumping8.
KetanserinSerotonin receptors (antagonist)Causes hypersensitivity to aldicarb-induced paralysis21.
FluoxetineSerotonin-specific reuptake transporter (inhibitor)MOD-5 and others16, 17, 26Stimulates egg laying2, 16. Potentiates enhanced slowing response13, 17. Stimulates nose contraction16. Inhibits locomotion16, 21.
ParoxetineSerotonin-specific reuptake transporter (inhibitor)Stimulates nose contraction16.
ClomipramineSerotonin reuptake transporter (inhibitor)Stimulates egg laying2. Stimulates nose contraction16.
ImipramineMonoamine reuptake transporter (inhibitor)EGL-218Stimulates egg laying2, 12, 19. Stimulates pharyngeal pumping20.
ReserpineMonoamine vesicular transporter (inhibitor)Stimulates locomotion15 (in the presence of food). Inhibits egg laying15.
PhentolamineOctopamine and adrenergic receptors (antagonist)Stimulates egg laying3.
a

To qualify as a C. elegans target for a particular drug either: 1) mutation of the gene encoding the target protein must cause amine or drug-specific behavioral defects and lessen the behavioral effects of exogenous drug exposure; or 2) the target protein must bind to the drug in vitro and mutation of the gene encoding the target protein must lessen the effects of the exogenous drug in vivo.

From: Biogenic amine neurotransmitters in C. elegans

Cover of WormBook
WormBook: The Online Review of C. elegans Biology [Internet].
Pasadena (CA): WormBook; 2005-2018.
Copyright © 2005, WormBook Research Community.

All WormBook content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.