Serotonin regulates repolarization of the C. elegans pharyngeal muscle

Caenorhabditis elegans feeds by rhythmically contracting its pharynx to ingest bacteria. The rate of pharyngeal contraction is increased by serotonin and suppressed by octopamine. Using an electrophysiological assay, we show that serotonin and octopamine regulate two additional aspects of pharyngeal behavior. Serotonin decreases the duration of the pharyngeal action potential and enhances activity of the pharyngeal M3 motor neurons. Gramine, a competitive serotonin antagonist, and octopamine have effects opposite to those of serotonin: gramine and octopamine increase action potential duration and suppress M3 activity. The effects of serotonin, gramine and octopamine on action potential duration are dependent on the pharyngeal motor neurons MC and M3. When the MC and M3 motor neurons are functionally defective, serotonin and octopamine do not regulate the action potential. Our data suggest that serotonin alters pharyngeal physiology to allow for rapid contraction-relaxation cycles. Reciprocal regulation of pharyngeal behavior by serotonin and octopamine provides a mechanism for adapting to the presence and absence of food, respectively.