Caenorhabditis elegans as a Genomic Model for Toxicology

Effective toxicological testing of the vast number of new and existing chemicals currently in use will require efficient and cost effective methods. We evaluated the utility of a simple, low cost toxicity testing system employing the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to identify toxicologically relevant changes in gene expression. Dichlorvos and fenamiphos, which are organophosphorous pesticides that inhibit acetylcholinesterase were chosen as model toxicants to test the usefulness of the C. elegans toxicity testing system, and mefloquine, which appears to perturb neuronal Ca++ homeostasis, provided an out-group for analysis. Keywords: gene expression array-based (RNA / in situ oligonucleotide)针对当前已投入使用的海量新旧化学品开展有效的毒理学测试，亟需兼具高效性与经济性的检测手段。本研究评估了一套简易且低成本毒理学检测系统的应用价值，该系统以秀丽隐杆线虫（Caenorhabditis elegans）为模型，用于识别基因表达层面与毒理学效应相关的变化。研究选取两种可抑制乙酰胆碱酯酶的有机磷农药——敌敌畏（Dichlorvos）与苯线磷（fenamiphos）作为模型毒物，以验证该秀丽隐杆线虫毒理学检测系统的有效性；同时选取可干扰神经元钙离子稳态的甲氟喹（mefloquine）作为分析用外类群。关键词：基于基因表达芯片（RNA/原位寡核苷酸）