Caenorhabditis elegans as an In Vivo Model Organism to Elucidate Teratogenic Effects

Abstract

Exogenous teratogens contribute to approximately 10% of the human abnormality with exposure occurrence during the prenatal and fetal period. However, the assessment methods and underlying mechanism remain unclear. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been recognized as one of the ideal model animals for toxicologic research as convenient culture, low cost, and complete phenotypes and genomic profiling. This chapter describes the protocols about the estimations on the teratogenic effects using nematodes as model organisms, including the growth, development, behavior, reproduction, energy balance, and transgenes.

Keywords: Behavior; Caenorhabditis elegans; Growth; Morphology; Teratogenic effects.