daf-7 expression in ASI neurons is increased when postembryonic developmental stage L1 nematodes are grown in the presence of endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG). Left upper panel: representative image of reporter strain FK181 ksIs2 [Pdaf-7::GFP+
rol-6(
su1006)] captured under GFP epifluorescence microscopy. Right upper panel: same individual showing bright field microscopy image together with GFP signal. Gray/black triangles mark ASI neurons expressing
daf-7. Scale bars correspond to 0.03 mm. Lower panel: point plot of the adjusted GFP intensity/ASI neuron values gathered from worms treated either with the carrier solvent or with 2-AG. 2-AG treatment significantly increases
daf-7 expression in ASI neurons. (*) indicates statistically significant difference with solvent control condition; the difference in the median values of the relative adjusted GFP fluorescence/ASI neuron between the two groups is greater than would be expected by chance; there is a statistically significant difference between solvent and 2-AG (Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Test, p=<0.001). The number of independent experiments carried out was three. The total number of ASI neurons analyzed was 70 for each condition.