Effect of loss of ASH osmosensory neuron function on hypertonic stress induced whole animal water loss and volume recovery.

(A) Whole worm volume changes. Wild type worms and osm-9(ok1677) and osm-12(n1606) loss-of-function mutants were transferred to agar plates containing 200 mM NaCl at time 0. Values are means ± S.E. (n = 8). gpdh-1 mRNA expression (B) and whole animal glycerol levels (C) in wild type and osm-9(ok1677) and osm-12(n1606) worms. Values are means ± S.E. (n = 3). *P<0.002 and **P<0.007 compared to wild type worms. (D) Time course changes in gpdh-1 expression. Wild type worms and osm-9(ok1677) and osm-12(n1606) loss-of-function mutants were transferred to agar plates containing 200 mM NaCl at time 0. Values are means ± S.E. (n = 3–5). *P<0.01 compared to osm-9(ok1677) and osm-12(n1606) mutants.