Worm Breeder's Gazette 14(1): 106 (October 1, 1995)
These abstracts should not be cited in bibliographies. Material contained herein should be treated as personal communication and should be cited as such only with the consent of the author.
box 45, Novosibirsk, 630107, USSR
C. elegans (1 - 2 days old) were collected from separate stock, frozen and
after 12 hours or more time, thawed, filtrated and mixed with S medium
containing E. coli (1:1), this mixture was used as a medium for worms in
experimental group. The medium for control group was prepared by mixing S
medium containing E. coli with S medium without E. coli (1:1).
Three adult animals (3 - 5 days old) were kept in microtitre wells
containing 0,75 ml of liquid medium (with E. coli and with or without
young worms extract) during 12 hours then they were discarded and newborn
larvae were transferred in next wells every day (one worm in one well).
The medium with extract from young worms was used in experimental group
beginning from third day, that is in reproductive and postreproductive
periods of nematode lie span. Number of progeny was calculated every day.
This investigation was carried out in temperature +21 C and in the dark-
ness. The obtained results are presented in the following table.
Control group Experimental group
n=11 P n=10
Mean+/-S.D. Mean+/-S.D.
Longevity:
mean 19,2 +/- 1,9 >0,05 24,2 +/- 2,4
maximal 30 35
minimal 11 11
Period:
prereproductive 3,4 +/- 0,3 >0,05 2,9 +/- 0,1
reproductive 10,2 +/- 0,9 <0,05 14,0 +/- 1,3
postreproductive 4,8 +/- 1,2 >0,05 6,9 +/- 1,7
Fecundity:
mean 146,8 +/- 10,3 <0,02 199,4 +/-16,2
maximal 182 330
minimal 75 113
Conclusion: If the extract from young worms was applied to C. elegans
during reproductive and postreproductive period of their life span, then
it was able to increase their mean fecundity (by 35,8 per cent) as well as
length of reproductive period (by 37,3 per cent). The mean longevity in
experimental group was slightly increased too (but not significantly).
Acknowledgment: The author wishes to express his thanks to CGC for
providing C. elegans (Bristol, N2) and E.coli OP50.