Int. J. Dev. Biol. 61: 367 - 374 (2017)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.160352ss

Vol 61, Issue 6-7

Regulation of body size in Caenorhabditis elegans: effects of environmental factors and the nervous system

Review | Published: 11 July 2017

Takashi Nagashima¹, Shoichi Ishiura² and Satoshi Suo*^,3

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, ²Department of Medical Life Systems, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyoto and ³Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan

Abstract

Body size is one of the basic traits of animals and is regulated to adapt to the environment. Animals perceive environmental stimuli with sensory neurons, and signals from the nervous system alter the size of organs, thus regulating body size. The model animal Caenorhabditis elegans is particularly suited for genetic analysis of body size regulation, and has already contributed to the elucidation of various genetic pathways that regulate body size. In this review, we summarize the available literature regarding environmental factors that regulate body size and the role of the nervous system in such regulation. We discuss in detail a recent report on body size regulation by the neurotransmitter, dopamine.

Keywords

body size, environmental factors, dopamine, caenorhabditis elegans