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Effects of Exogenous Glucose and Insulin on C. Elegans

AJAS · 2019 Biomedical and Health Sciences (inferred)

Emily Gaw · New Hampshire Science Academy

Overview

Glucose has been shown to shorten the lifespan of the nematode C. elegans that has an evolutionarily conserved insulin signaling pathway similar to that of humans. This study examined the effects of periodic high-glucose exposure on activity levels and survival rates in C. elegans. The purpose was to investigate whether there is a “tipping point” where exposure to excess glucose becomes irreversibly harmful. Two experimental groups – “single-shocked worms” (worms administered glucose on day 1 and 2 of adulthood) and “double-shocked worms” (worms administered glucose on day 1, 2, 5, and 6 of adulthood) – were compared to a control of un-shocked worms (worms of the same age that received no glucose). The experiment confirmed the deleterious effects of glucose exposure to C. elegans. An unexpected increase in survival rates was observed in the double-shock groups as compared to the lower survival rates in single-shocked groups (the double-shock groups had similar survival rates when compared with the control groups). The results suggest a quick adaptation process to high glucose conditions. This is supported by a decrease in activity levels post glucose introduction, followed by a rise in activity. The results also suggest that the changes may be irreversible, as the single-shocked worm groups did not survive well when normal conditions were restored. Rather, the worms survived better when the glucose shock was reintroduced. In an additional experiment, insulin was administered in place of glucose to C. elegans under the same experimental conditions. Similar results were recorded, suggesting that the observed effects were based in the insulin signaling pathway.

Competition history

  • AJAS 2019 Category not listed

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Source: AAAS Annual Meeting (Confex) / American Junior Academy of Science

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