Memory defects in post-dauer Caenorhabditis elegans are a result of altered insulin signalling.

Abstract

In response to unfavourable conditions and environmental duress, Caenorhabditis elegans follows an alternative developmental stage called the dauer larva, which is associated with various metabolic changes. Dauers can survive in harsh conditions for several months. They resume their development on returning to favourable conditions. This study investigates the impact of altered insulin signalling on memory in post-dauer C. elegans. Our major findings reveal significant deficits in both short- and long-term associative memory in post-dauer nematodes. Through behavioural assays, we demonstrate a robust impairment in memory retrieval, indicating a potential link between the post-dauer state and cognitive dysfunction. Strikingly, we identify that the short-term memory deficit observed in post-dauer worms can be ameliorated by the administration of exogenous insulin. The findings underscore the critical role of insulin signalling in modulating memory processes in post-dauer C. elegans, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms governing memory defects in this developmental stage.