Acute Effects of Caffeine and Ketamine on C. elegans
Start Date
2023 3:20 PM
Location
Alter Hall 207
Abstract
Caffeine is a commonly used psychoactive substance found in beverages such as coffee and energy drinks to increase alertness and metabolism. While ketamine is an anesthetic used for surgical procedures and is also used as an illicit drug due to its hallucinogenic properties. The effects of both substances were measured to determine the effects of both a stimulant and a sedative on these organisms. C. elegans are small invertebrates that have recently been discovered to be a useful model in pharmacological studies. Additionally, C. elegans can provide data from a whole animal with intact, complex biological systems. In this experiment, C. elegans were treated with either caffeine or ketamine for four hours to determine their acute effects on locomotion and body movements. Regarding the locomotion assay that was carried out, C. elegans were placed within a circle in the middle of a petri dish. The organisms were then given thirty minutes to move around the dish, and the number of organisms that moved outside of the circle were recorded. Additionally, for the body bends assay the number of reversals, forward movements, omega turns, and coils were recorded for seven worms. We found that there was not a significant effect on the locomotion of C. elegans when they were treated with caffeine or ketamine. However, regarding the body bends assay that was performed, we found a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the number of forward movements in C. elegans treated with caffeine or ketamine.
Acute Effects of Caffeine and Ketamine on C. elegans
Alter Hall 207
Caffeine is a commonly used psychoactive substance found in beverages such as coffee and energy drinks to increase alertness and metabolism. While ketamine is an anesthetic used for surgical procedures and is also used as an illicit drug due to its hallucinogenic properties. The effects of both substances were measured to determine the effects of both a stimulant and a sedative on these organisms. C. elegans are small invertebrates that have recently been discovered to be a useful model in pharmacological studies. Additionally, C. elegans can provide data from a whole animal with intact, complex biological systems. In this experiment, C. elegans were treated with either caffeine or ketamine for four hours to determine their acute effects on locomotion and body movements. Regarding the locomotion assay that was carried out, C. elegans were placed within a circle in the middle of a petri dish. The organisms were then given thirty minutes to move around the dish, and the number of organisms that moved outside of the circle were recorded. Additionally, for the body bends assay the number of reversals, forward movements, omega turns, and coils were recorded for seven worms. We found that there was not a significant effect on the locomotion of C. elegans when they were treated with caffeine or ketamine. However, regarding the body bends assay that was performed, we found a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the number of forward movements in C. elegans treated with caffeine or ketamine.
