Neuroscience

Nictation is a dauer-specific standing and waving behavior of the nematodes including Caenorhabditis species. Nictation enhances the capability of free-living nematodes to hitchhike to other animals as well as parasitic nematodes to infect their hosts. However, lack of an assay for this behavior has made it difficult to elucidate its underlying regulatory mechanisms and related genetic pathways. We have developed nictation assays that enable the quantification of the nictation behavior of individuals and groups of worms. Gauze assay is less quantitative but is an easier way to observe nictation behavior in plates with plenty of dauers. The micro-dirt chip made from PDMS mold is a more sophisticated method to quantify the nictation behavior. Nictation can be quantified on a micro-dirt chip either by measuring the average nictating time of individual dauers or by the fraction of nictating worms in a given dauer population.