This study investigates the auditory sensation in the nematode C. elegans, demonstrating that these worms are capable of sensing and responding to airborne sound. The research outlines methods to characterize three key features of C. elegans auditory sensation:

1. Sound-evoked skin vibration: Airborne sound physically vibrates the worm’s external cuticle, which is quantified using laser Doppler vibrometry. This vibration activates the sound-sensitive mechanosensory neurons FLP/PVD.

2. Neuronal activation: The activation of FLP/PVD neurons is detected through calcium imaging using the genetically encoded indicator GCaMP6f and mCherry. This method allows for monitoring of neuronal activity in response to sound stimuli in both freely moving and immobilized worms.

3. Behavior: C. elegans exhibit phonotaxis behavior, moving away from the source of sound. This behavior is quantified by observing the worms’ avoidance of sound pulses directed at their head or tail.

The study highlights the importance of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) DES-2/DEG-3 in auditory transduction, as worms lacking this receptor show deficits in both behavior and neuronal activation in response to sound.

This research provides a comprehensive framework for investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying auditory sensation and mechanotransduction in C. elegans. By utilizing this model organism, further insights into the evolution and function of hearing in the animal kingdom can be gained.

The work entitled “Characterization of auditory sensation in C. elegans” was published on Biophysics Reports (published on December, 2024).
DOI: 10.52601/bpr.2024.240027