Effects of ethanol intake on anti-oxidant responses and the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans

Zhong-Qin Wu,Ke Li,Jin-Kui Ma,Zong-Jun Li

doi:10.1080/19476337.2018.1564794

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe effects of alcohol stress on Caenorhabditis elegans were investigated. Nematodes were exposed to 1–5% alcohol, after which lifespan, movement, reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzymes, cell apoptosis, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins were evaluated. Low concentrations of alcohol (1–2%) significantly enhanced total antioxidant capacity, along with an observable increase in normal locomotion. Total antioxidant activity was significantly lower at high (4–5%) than at low (1–2%) concentrations of alcohol. These results suggested that alcohol intake leads to an imbalance in oxidative defense in C. elegans. None of the groups administered alcohol displayed signs of apoptosis. Low concentrations of alcohol delayed decrepitude, promoted resistance to oxidative stress, and improved antioxidant capacity. However, nematodes could not withstand the oxidative stress induced by and toxicity of high alcohol concentrations, which eventually shortened their lifespan. This study provides a reference for the screening of drugs that reduce the side effects of alcohol.

Highlights

Liquor is a traditional beverage consumed by all ethnic groups globally and the most commonly consumed beverage
Compared with that in the control group, the pharynx pumping rate was significantly increased in the 1% alcohol
Nematodes were in dynamic balance, without a significant difference from the control group

Summary

Introduction

Liquor is a traditional beverage consumed by all ethnic groups globally and the most commonly consumed beverage. The use of different model organisms to study the physiological effects and toxicity of alcohol has attracted the attention of many scholars. As a model organism with a short lifespan, C. elegans can be cultivated, handled, and observed microscopically (Goldstein, 2016). It has become the most popular model organism in scientific research. Researchers have found that low concentrations of alcohol have a certain effect on C. elegans longevity (Castro, Khare, Young, & Clarke, 2012; Chen, O’Halloran, & Kovacs, 2014; Roberson, Kuddo, Abebe, & Spong, 2013; Yu, 2011; Yu, Zhao, Ma, Fu, & Zhao, 2011).

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