Ref ID : 857
Andrew M. Spence, Kathleen M.B. Malone, Marie M.A. Novak, and Robin A. Woods; The effects of mebendazole on the growth and development of Caenorhabditis elegans. Can.J.Zool. 60:2616-2623, 1982
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Mebendazole inhibits the growth, reproductive capacity, and motility of Caenorhabditis elegans. Maximum reproduction of length (50%) and volume (80%) was observed at 6.25 ug/ml mebendazole. At this concentration vulva formation was delayed by 18 hr and egg production was reduced from 8 eggs/worm per hour to less than 1. The critical period for the effect of mebendazole on length was from 40 to 50 hr after hatching. The drug did not affect the viability of eggs, larvae, or adults. L1 and L2 larvae were motile in the presence of mebendazole (6.25 ug/ml); paralysis became apparent during the L3 and was complete in L4 and adult stages. Paralysed worms coiled into a ring and moved feebly and spasmodically. The first two moults occurred at the same time in control and treated worms, the L3/L4 and L4/adult moults were delayed by less than 1 hr in the presence of the drug. Evidence is presented that these observed effects are caused by mebendazole and were not the consequence of partial starvation resulting from paralysis.