Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
By Paige Phillips
Introduction/Background
For this study, I have chosen to treat my Lumbriculus variegatus with the popular drug
enhancer. It is a central nervous system stimulant used to treat breathing problems, nasal
stimulates heart rate and blood flow toward the muscles. Due to increased popularity among
professional athletes, controversy has surrounded the drug in recent years. Also, amphetamines
and methamphetamines, which are components of ephedrine, can be found in the making of the
illegal drug, crystal meth. Ephedrine is a drug that can be abused very easily, and with such
dramatic effects on humans, I thought it would be interesting to see how the worms would react
to it.1
Lumbriculus variegatus, otherwise known as the California black worm, can be very
easily obtained. They function as good model creatures, because they have simple, efficient
vascular systems, in addition to segmented vascular division. For that reason, the results of this
pulsation rate and regeneration growth. The solution used to treat my worms will be the
independent variable, while the pulsation and growth rates of the worms will be the dependent
variables. My hypothesis is that if I administer the Lumbriculus variegatus with ephedrine, the
Several studies have been performed to examine the behavior, growth, and reproduction
of Lumbriculus variegatus. One in particular observed Growth and locomotory behavior as the
worms were placed in four different sediment types: fine, coarse, medium, and whole sediments.
The coarse and fine sediments showed the worms having more locomotory activity, along with
greater reproduction and growth rates. This experiment’s objectives were similar to those of our
Many tests involving our drug of choice, ephedrine, have also taken place. One study on
neonatal rats was used to examine how ephedrine would affect the neural plasticity of hypoxic
ischemic damage, or HIBD, and also to venture into the working of the molecular mechanics
inside these rats. Sixty rats with HIBD were randomly placed into four separate groups, three
containing different strands of ephedrine, while one remained as a control group. They used the
immunohistochemical method to calculate and show the representation of growth protein and
synaptophysin in these rats. The mean time it took for the ephedrine-treated rats to escape the
water maze was less than that of the control group. However, there was no statistical difference
between the three different types of ephedrine rats. The ephedrine increased memory, learning,
and spatial orientation, but as time elapsed all of those previously mentioned traits began to fall
In recent years, the use of Caffeine and Ephedrine for the purpose of athletic performance
enhancement has become very popular among several sportspersons. This may be due to the idea
that the two drugs are more effective when taken together. This article considers each of the
drug’s chemical properties and effects on athletic performance to determine whether a mixture of
Hypothesis
My hypothesis is that if I treat the Lumbriculus variegatus with ephedrine, the pulsation
Methods
My first experiment’s objective is to test how the addition of ephedrine to each worm’s
spring water will affect its pulsation rate. I will begin by producing a diluted treatment solution
control group will be in approximately 2.5 milliliters of spring water, while my treatment group
will be in approximately .5 milliliters of the ephedrine solution. Each group will contain eight
For the first trial, I will observe pulsations after the worms have been placed in each well
for 10 minutes, then for 20 minutes in the second trial. I can then count pulsations per minute by
placing each worm, one-by-one, under a microscope. Measurements and observations must be
recorded. With this data I can now calculate the mean and standard deviation, and perform a T-
For my second experiment, I will be testing the regeneration rate of the worms. My Control
group consists of 20 worms cut into roughly 7-8 segments. They will be placed in 2.5 mL of
spring water. I will be concocting 2 treatments for this study. For the first treatment, 20 cut
worms will be placed into 2.5 mL of 1% Ephedrine solution. For the second treatment, 20 cut
worms will be placed in 2.5 mL of .1% Ephedrine solution. After placing each cut worm into the
appropriate solution, I will put them in a dark, enclosed area, and leave them there for one week.
After one week has passed, I will remove each worm one-by-one from their assigned wells,
count the newly grown segments, and record the data. With this data, I can then calculate the
Timeline
Wednesday, June 18: Prepare for pulsation rate experiment by practicing counting pulsations
under a microscope.
Wednesday, June 25: Perform pulsation rate experiment. Record and analyze data.
Discussion/Problems
I am using ephedrine to examine the effects it will have on the California black worm’s
pulsation and regeneration rate. Before conducting my research, I knew very little about
ephedrine. My knowledge of the drug has been limited to what I can find on the internet and in
articles. I unfortunately do not have any knowledge of any other ephedrine testing on
invertebrates. Therefore, I will not be able to compare results with a similar experiment. The
experiment itself also has a few limitations. The amount of ephedrine I use during the experiment
depends on the amount available. The concentration of ephedrine for each solution is a matter of
estimation, given that there is no way to directly convert a human dosage of ephedrine to one fit
for a worm.
Working Bibliography
Ephedrine- Oral Side Effects, Medical Uses, and Drug Interactions." MedicineNet. 2007. 11 July
2008. <http://www.medicinenet.com/ephedrine-oral/article.htm>.
(Oligochaetae) in Different Sediment Types”. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 13: 519-
526, 2007.
<http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=108&sid=a6102fc8-f83b-4c31-b681-
449c0e1f6338%40sessionmgr107>.
Xiao, Nong, Shizhi Li, Xiaoping Zhang, and Siyuan Chen. "Effect of Ephedrine on Neuronal
(2008): 99-102. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. WVU Library, Morgantown. 27 June 2008.
Keyword: Ephedrine.
1
Ephedrine- oral side effects, medical uses, and drug interactions. Available from:
www.google.com. [search engine]MedicineNet. 2007. Available from:
<http://www.medicinenet.com/ephedrine-oral/article.htm>. Accessed 2008 July 11.
2
3
Xiao, Nong, Shizhi Li, Xiaoping Zhang, and Siyuan Chen. Effect of ephedrine on neuronal
plasticity of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats. Neuroscience letters
2008;(435): 99-102. Available from: Academic Search Premier. [online database]
www.ebscohost.com. Accessed 2008 June 27.
4
Magkos, F, and S A. Kavouras. Caffeine and ephedrine: physiological, metabolic and
performance-enhancing effects. Sports Medicine 2004;(34):871-889. Available from:
Medline.[online database]
<http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=108&sid=a6102fc8-f83b-4c31-b681-
449c0e1f6338%40sessionmgr107>. Accessed 2008 July 1.