The Effect Of Various Antidepressants On Action Potential Characteristics In Lumbricus Terrestris
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
11th Grade
Presentation Topic
Physiology and Health
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Oral Presentation Award
3rd Place
Written Paper Award
3rd Place
Abstract
Antidepressants are medications that are known to treat depression. There are several types of antidepressants such as Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), and some more recent ones such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). TCAs were the first antidepressant to be used, but were quickly replaced with SSRIs when it was shown to cause severe side effects. In this experiment, SSRIs and TCAs were compared to see which medication would cause the most decrease in action potential of the earthworm. It was first hypothesized that if nerve action potentials are tested in earthworms, injected with antidepressants, then the antidepressants will cause suppressed action potentials. It is also hypothesized that if nerve action potentials are tested in earthworms, injected with two types of antidepressants, then the tricyclic antidepressant will cause more suppression of action potentials than the SSRI, Fluoxetine. To test this, a reflex habituation test was conducted on each of the sixty earthworms, which were subsequently injected with four different substances: Distilled water, Lidocaine, and the antidepressants. After the earthworms were injected, a spatial dimensions test of the action potential wave was conducted. After recording, the duration and peak voltage of the action potential spikes were measured. A one-way ANOVA test was conducted for each experiment. It was found that the reflex habituation test was not significant, F(3, 48)=0.95, p>0.05. But, the one-way ANOVA test was significant for the spatial dimensions experiment between all four substances, F(3, 56)=3.5, p<0.05 and distilled water, SSRI and TCA, F(3, 56)=3.5. A Tukey test was conducted showing differences between distilled water and the SSRI and between distilled water and Lidocaine. It was concluded that antidepressants can suppress action potentials, but there was no evidence indicating that the TCA drug caused more suppression of action potentials compared to the SSRI drug. /
Recommended Citation
Rao, Priyanka, "The Effect Of Various Antidepressants On Action Potential Characteristics In Lumbricus Terrestris" (2016). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 264.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2016/all/264
Location
Owens G02
Start Date
4-16-2016 9:00 AM
The Effect Of Various Antidepressants On Action Potential Characteristics In Lumbricus Terrestris
Owens G02
Antidepressants are medications that are known to treat depression. There are several types of antidepressants such as Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), and some more recent ones such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). TCAs were the first antidepressant to be used, but were quickly replaced with SSRIs when it was shown to cause severe side effects. In this experiment, SSRIs and TCAs were compared to see which medication would cause the most decrease in action potential of the earthworm. It was first hypothesized that if nerve action potentials are tested in earthworms, injected with antidepressants, then the antidepressants will cause suppressed action potentials. It is also hypothesized that if nerve action potentials are tested in earthworms, injected with two types of antidepressants, then the tricyclic antidepressant will cause more suppression of action potentials than the SSRI, Fluoxetine. To test this, a reflex habituation test was conducted on each of the sixty earthworms, which were subsequently injected with four different substances: Distilled water, Lidocaine, and the antidepressants. After the earthworms were injected, a spatial dimensions test of the action potential wave was conducted. After recording, the duration and peak voltage of the action potential spikes were measured. A one-way ANOVA test was conducted for each experiment. It was found that the reflex habituation test was not significant, F(3, 48)=0.95, p>0.05. But, the one-way ANOVA test was significant for the spatial dimensions experiment between all four substances, F(3, 56)=3.5, p<0.05 and distilled water, SSRI and TCA, F(3, 56)=3.5. A Tukey test was conducted showing differences between distilled water and the SSRI and between distilled water and Lidocaine. It was concluded that antidepressants can suppress action potentials, but there was no evidence indicating that the TCA drug caused more suppression of action potentials compared to the SSRI drug. /
