Hagstrom_2015_Toxicol.Sci_147_270

Reference

Title : Freshwater Planarians as an Alternative Animal Model for Neurotoxicology - Hagstrom_2015_Toxicol.Sci_147_270
Author(s) : Hagstrom D , Cochet-Escartin O , Zhang S , Khuu C , Collins ES
Ref : Toxicol Sci , 147 :270 , 2015
Abstract :

Traditional toxicology testing has relied on low-throughput, expensive mammalian studies; however, timely testing of the large number of environmental toxicants requires new in vitro and in vivo platforms for inexpensive medium- to high-throughput screening. Herein, we describe the suitability of the asexual freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica as a new animal model for the study of developmental neurotoxicology. As these asexual animals reproduce by binary fission, followed by regeneration of missing body structures within approximately 1 week, development and regeneration occur through similar processes allowing us to induce neurodevelopment "at will" through amputation. This short time scale and the comparable sizes of full and regenerating animals enable parallel experiments in adults and developing worms to determine development-specific aspects of toxicity. Because the planarian brain, despite its simplicity, is structurally and molecularly similar to the mammalian brain, we are able to ascertain neurodevelopmental toxicity that is relevant to humans. As a proof of concept, we developed a 5-step semiautomatic screening platform to characterize the toxicity of 9 known neurotoxicants (consisting of common solvents, pesticides, and detergents) and a neutral agent, glucose, and quantified effects on viability, stimulated and unstimulated behavior, regeneration, and brain structure. Comparisons of our findings with other alternative toxicology animal models, such as zebrafish larvae and nematodes, demonstrated that planarians are comparably sensitive to the tested chemicals. In addition, we found that certain compounds induced adverse effects specifically in developing animals. We thus conclude that planarians offer new complementary opportunities for developmental neurotoxicology animal models.

PubMedSearch : Hagstrom_2015_Toxicol.Sci_147_270
PubMedID: 26116028
Gene_locus related to this paper: dugja-CHE1 , dugja-CHE2

Related information

Gene_locus dugja-CHE1    dugja-CHE2

Citations formats

Hagstrom D, Cochet-Escartin O, Zhang S, Khuu C, Collins ES (2015)
Freshwater Planarians as an Alternative Animal Model for Neurotoxicology
Toxicol Sci 147 :270

Hagstrom D, Cochet-Escartin O, Zhang S, Khuu C, Collins ES (2015)
Toxicol Sci 147 :270