Ephedrine Effects on Lumbriculus variegatus

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine how the Lumbriculus variegatus would

react when placed in a solution of ephedrine. To test this, the worms were split into

a control group, and a 1% ephedrine solution. After this was done, their pulsation

and regeneration rates were calculated. The ephedrine caused the pulsation rate to

rise, however it lowered the regeneration rate. This runs concurrent with other

studies done on ephedrine that a long lasting dose would have adverse effects, as

the regeneration worms were left out in the solution for a week compared to the

pulsation worms which were in it for ten or twenty minutes. The results of the

testing showed that the pulsation rate was higher with ephedrine, though the

regeneration rate was lower than that of the control group of spring water.

Introduction/Problem Statements

In recent years professional athletes have been involved in several scandals,

one was with a product called ephedrine. They are using this drug to supplement

their diet in an attempt to gain an unfair advantage in their professional career. It

speeds up their metabolism and allows them to process the food they intake quicker

and at an alarming rate as most are already on a heavy supplement regiment.i Also

in recent years an illegal drug called crystal meth has been developed, and its main

components are derivatives of ephedrine known as amphetamines and

methamphetamines. They make amphetamines and methamphetamines by

cooking down ephedrine containing product. They then add different substances

and make crystal meth, which has a main component of methamphetamines.

These drugs are currently being abused by numerous amounts of people each day.

Because of a recent surge to acquire ephedrine to make illegal drugs and gain an

unfair advantage in professional sports, our interest is high to see the effects this

powerful drug has on the Lumbriculus variegatus, also known as California black

worms.ii

Hypothesis

If we add .5 ml of our 1% solution of ephedrine to the spring water and Lumbriculus

variegatus, then the pulsation rate rise as a direct result of the ephedrine. If we add

our .5 ml of our .1% and 1% concentration of ephedrine to the spring water and

Lumbriculus variegatus, then the regeneration rate will exceed that of the spring

water control group.

Methodology

For our pulsation test we will test the pulsation rate in the Lumbriculus

variegatus after exposing one group of eight to spring water and another group of

eight to 1% ephedrine solution for ten minutes. Then we will do the same

experiment except leave them exposed to the spring water and ephedrine solution

for twenty minutes then test the pulsation rate again. To test the pulsation rate we

will remove each subject individually and place them under a microscope and

determine the number of pulsations per minute.

 Pulsation Rate Experimental
Design
n=32
Worms

n=16 n=16
Control Ephedrine

n=8 n=8 n=8 n=8

10 Minutes 20 Minutes 10 Minutes 20 Minutes

For our regeneration test we examined how quickly the worms regenerate

new segments after being cut into an eight segment posterior and anterior half. We

then took thirty worms, ten for the control group of spring water, ten for a .1%

ephedrine solution, and ten for a 1% ephedrine solution. These ten worms will be

cut in half, and then broken up into 8 segment long halves. This will turn the ten

worms into twenty halves for each group. We will then wait one week after cutting

them and then measure the new growth of segments on them. We will be able to

determine the new segments easily as they will be a different color from the rest of

the worm. With this data we can tell how each group was affected by the treatment

issued.
 Regeneration Rate Experimental
Design
n=30
Worms

n=10 n=10 n=10

Control .1 Ephedrine 1 Ephedrine

n=10 n=10 n=10

Posterior Posterior Posterior

n=10 n=10 n=10

Anterior Anterior Anterior

Results

Our worms that were exposed to ephedrine had significantly higher pulsation

rates; however the time factor of our experiment had no effect. This was expected

as tests performed on other animals and organisms provide evidence that blood

flow increases. This ran concurrent with our study as we found the pulsation rate in

the Lumbriculus variegatus rose. Their pulsation rate is the same as our blood flow.
 Pulsation Rates
30

* Treatment
P<.0001
25

* Time P>0.05
20

Control 10 mins
15
Ephedrine 10 mins
Control 20 mins
10
Ephedrine 20 mins
rm
p
n
tio
e aP
u
ls

For our regeneration rate we tested a 0.1%, and a 1% solution of ephedrine.

We were testing the regeneration rate of our worms after they were cut into 8

segments, and also into posterior and anterior halves. The worms that were

exposed to ephedrine had significantly lower regeneration rates. At the higher

concentration regeneration was reduced by 75%, while the lower concentration was

reduced by 50%. This contradicted what we hypothesized, as we recognized the

fact that pulsation rate increased so that led us to believe that the regeneration rate

would follow suit. This however did not hold true.

 Regeneration Rates
P<.0001
40
35
30
25
Control
20
* Ephedrine 0.1%
15
Ephedrine 1%
10
5
m
td
s R
g
n
e
ra

0
Average

Conclusions/Future Implications

We tested the pulsation and regeneration rates of our Lumbriculus variegatus

by exposing them to an ephedrine solution. Our knowledge is limited to the basics

as we know what we have researched about it on the internet and what has been

said about it on the news. As there is not an actual conversion factor for what a

human should take to what a worm will require, we have to estimate what

concentration of solution will give me results without killing off all the worms. Also

no tests on invertebrates had been done using ephedrine so that too has hindered

our research and the possibility of comparing results with the other test. So our test

is going to be the only knowledge we have of ephedrine used on any invertebrate.

References and Literature cited

i 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 435 (2008): 99-102. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. WVU

Library, Morgantown. 27 June 2008.

ii Sardo, Soares, Gerhardt. “Behavior, Growth, and Reproduction of Lumbriculus

Variegatus (Oligochaetae) in Different Sediment Types”. Human and Ecological Risk

Assessment, 13: 519-526, 2007.