Atropine reduces aldicarb-induced sensitivity to C. elegans electroshock model

Electroshock has been used to study seizure in invertebrate and vertebrate models. Whereas the maximal electroshock seizure test, or MEST, has been considered the gold standard for testing seizure in rodent models, our lab developed an electroshock assay to investigate seizure-like behavior in C. elegans (Tolman et al.,1946; Rogawski et al., 2003; Risley et al., 2016; Suthakaran et al., 2021). We define the seizure behavior characteristics in our assay as paralysis, hypercontraction of muscles, and unilateral body bends which is similar to the description of seizures in other models (Tolman et al., 1946; Williams et al., 2004; Marley & Baines, 2011; Risley et al., 2016). FDA-approved antiepileptic drugs have shown efficacy in our assay, making it a rapid screening tool for potential novel treatments (Risley et al., 2016; Suthakaran et al., 2021).