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. 2013 Apr 10;33(15):6557–6562. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1536-12.2013

Figure 2.

Figure 2.

Riluzole improves the neuromuscular function in Cesmn-1(lf) animals via SK channels. A, Riluzole, an SK channel activator, increases Cesmn-1(lf) pumping rates. Cesmn-1(lf) and control animals were reared on riluzole (1, 3, and 33 μm) and pumping rates were scored at day 3, post hatching. Control: p = 0.007, F = 4.2; Cesmn-1(lf): p = 0.02, F = 3.5; one-way ANOVA. B, Apamin, an SK2 and SK3 channel blocker, exacerbates Cesmn-1(lf) pumping defects. Animals were reared on apamin (3 μm) and pumping rates were scored at day 3, post hatching. C, Loss of the C. elegans SK gene ortholog kcnl-2 enhanced Cesmn-1(lf) pumping defects and blocked the beneficial effect of riluzole (inset, kcnl-2(tm1885) Cesmn-1(lf) double mutant animals). Loss of other potassium channel genes (slo-1, slo-2, sup-9) did not exacerbate Cesmn-1(lf) defects. Control: p = 9 × 10−4, F = 4.3; Cesmn-1(lf): p = 0.005, F = 3.5; one-way ANOVA. For presentation purposes, A and C combine results from independent experiments; see Materials and Methods for details and results of independent experiments. D, Loss of kcnl-2(tm1885) exacerbated Cesmn-1(lf) locomotion defects; riluzole significantly improved Cesmn-1(lf) motility (left inset, Cesmn-1(lf) animals). kcnl-2 function is required for riluzole to improve Cesmn-1(lf) performance (right inset, kcnl-2(tm1885) Cesmn-1(lf) animals) p = 3.5 × 10−7, F = 12.3; one-way ANOVA. SEM is shown; paired t-test or Mann–Whitney U test: *p < 0.05, **p <0.01, ***p <0.001.