Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1984 Development and regeneration of the escape reflex in the earthworm, Eisenia foetida Elizabeth Platt ininV g Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Zoology Commons Recommended Citation Vining, Elizabeth Platt, "Development and regeneration of the escape reflex in the ae rthworm, Eisenia foetida " (1984). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 7803. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/7803 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Universi^ Micrmlms International 300 N. Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 8423749 Vining, Elizabeth Piatt DEVELOPMENT AND REGENERATION OF THE ESCAPE REFLEX IN THE EARTHWORM, EISENIA FOETIDA Iowa State University PH.D. 1984 University Microfilms In t6r nâti0 n âl 300 N. zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 PLEASE NOTE: In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy. Problems encountered with this document have been identified here with a check mark V . 1. Glossy photographs or pages 2. Colored illustrations, paper or print 3. Photographs with dark background i/ 4. Illustrations are poor copy 5. Pages with black marks, not original copy 6. Print shows through as there is text on both sides of page 7. Indistinct, broken or small print on several pages 8. Print exceeds margin requirements 9. Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine 10. Computer printout pages with indistinct print 11. Page(s) lacking when material received, and not available from school or author. 12. Page(s) seem to be missing in numbering only as text follows. 13. Two pages numbered . Text follows. 14. Curling and wrinkled pages 15. Other ' University Microfilms International Development and regeneration of the escape reflex in the earthworm, Eisenia foetida by Elizabeth Piatt Vining A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major: Zoology (Neurobiology) Approved: Signature was redacted for privacy. In Charge of Major Work Signature was redacted for privacy. Department Signature was redacted for privacy. For the Graduate College Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 1984 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION v CURRICULUM VITA vi GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 Explanation of Dissertation Format 2 PART I. REGENERATION OF GIANT FIBERS FOLLOWING VENTRAL NERVE CORD TRANSECTION AND GRAFTING IN THE EARTHWORM, EISENIA FOETIDA 4 INTRODUCTION 5 MATERIALS AND METHODS 7 Nerve Cord Transection 7 Grafting 9 Intracellular Recordings from Giant Fibers 10 Histological Preparation 10 RESULTS 12 Identification of Giant Fiber Spikes 12 Initial Recovery of Giant Fiber Through-conduction 12 Directionality of Conduction 19 Conduction Time Across the Lesion 22 Regeneration and Lability of Conduction in Posterior Segments 30 Morphology 36 Single VNC Transection 36 Grafted Preparations 4l DISCUSSION 43 Spike Conduction in Regenerating Giant Fibers 44 SUMMARY 47 REFERENCES 49 PART II. VENTRAL NERVE CORD TRANSPLANTATION IN THE EARTHWORM, EISENIA FOETIDA. I. MORPHOLOGY 52 I I I INTRODUCTION 53 MATERIALS AND METHODS 56 Transplantation Procedure 56 Histology 57 RESULTS 58 Gross Morphology of the Transplant Region 58 Morphology Prior to Giant Fiber Through-conduction 58 Morphology After Giant Fiber Through-conduction 59 Junction 62 Transplant 69 Peripheral Connections 11 DISCUSSION 76 Interconnections 76 Morphological Stability 78 SUMMARY 80 REFERENCES 8l PART III. VENTRAL NERVE CORD TRANSPLANTATION IN THE EARTHWORM, El SEN IA POET I DA. II. ELECTRO- PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR 86 INTRODUCTION 87 MATERIALS AND METHODS 90 Pretesting Procedure 90 Transplantation 91 Electrophysiological Procedures 94 Non-invasive Recordings 94 Intracellular Recordings 94 RESULTS 96 Recovery of Giant Fiber Through-conduction 96 Recovery of Sensory Function 109 Recovery of MGF-mediated Motor Responses 121 Behavior 131 iv DISCUSSION 133 Interconnections 133 Changing Properties of Transplanted Giant Fibers 137 SUMMARY 141 REFERENCES 143 PART IV. EFFECTS OF FOOD DEPRIVATION ON THE FUNCTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF GIANT NERVE FIBERS IN THE EARTHWORM, EISENIA FOETIDA 14? INTRODUCTION 148 MATERIALS AND METHODS 150 Animals and Maintenance 150 Testing Procedure 152 RESULTS 154 Somatic Growth in Relation to Food Deprivation 154 Functional Development of Giant Fibers in Relation to Food Deprivation 157 Comparison of the Developmental Effects of Food Deprivation: "Dose-response" Relationships 163 Reversibility of Food-deprivation Effects on Giant Fiber Development 166 DISCUSSION 174 Relationship of Giant Fiber Growth to Somatic Growth 174 Effects of Starvation on Giant Fiber Function 179 SUMMARY 182 REFERENCES 183 GENERAL SUMMARY 185 REFERENCES 188 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 189 V DEDICATION to Cronin vi CURRICULUM VITA Elizabeth Piatt Vinlng BORN: May 31, 1956; Rapid City, South Dakota PRESENT ADDRESS: Department of Zoology Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 50011 (515-294-6879) EDUCATION 1974 Diploma, Gunnison High School, Gunnison, Colorado 1978 B.A. (Chemistry and Biology), Western State College, Gunnison, Colorado PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 1977 Laboratory Instructor, Biology Department, Western State Col lege 1978 Graduate Research Assistant, Biochemistry Department, Iowa State Uni versi ty 1979-1980 Laboratory Instructor, Zoology Department, 1981-1982 Iowa State University 1980-1981 Graduate Research Assistant, Zoology Department, present Iowa State University 1983 Biophysics of Neural Function, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA GRANTS Iowa State University Mini-grant for non-dissertation research ($300.00), 1983 HONORS Who's Who in American High Schools, 1974 Academic Scholarship to Western State College, 1974-1978 vi i Cum Laude, Western State College, 1978 Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, 1978 Premium of Academic Excellence Award at Iowa State University, 1978-1979 Best Paper Award at the Regional Developmental Biology Meeting (American Zoological Society), 1982 Graduate Student selected for Faculty Search Committee, 1982 Graduate Student selected for Graduate Affairs Committee, 1933 TEACHING AREAS Private Tutoring in General Chemistry Private Tutoring in Algebra Organismal Zoology (invertebrate and Vertebrate) Laboratory Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Advanced Vertebrate Physiology Laboratory Introduction to Neurobiology Laboratory Principles of Physiology Laboratory Guest Lecturer for Advanced Vertebrate Physiology ABSTRACTS (*Name of presenter) 1980 S. L. Pallas*, E. P. Vining and C. D. Drewes. Longitudinal Variation in Medial Giant Fiber (MGF) Mediated Escape Behavior In Intact Earthworms. Presented at the Third Midwest Neurobiologist Meeting. 1981 E. P. Vining", B. O'Gara and C. D. Drewes. Intracellular Electrical Activity in the Muscle Cells of the Blood Vessel in the Earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris. Presented at the Fourth Midwest Neurobiologist Meeting. 1982 E. P. Vining*, B. O'Gara and C. D. Drewes. Non-invasive Monitoring of Giant Nerve Activity in Developing Earthworms, Eisenia foetida (Savigny). Presented at the Regional Meeting of the Developmental Biologists, American Zoological Society. vi î i 1982 E. P. Vining*, B. O'Gara and C.