Thesis (PH. D)--University of Chicago, 1921. / "Author's abstract of this paper issued by the [Wistar institute] Bibliographic service, May 1." "Private edition, distributed by the University of Chicago libraries, Chicago, Illinois." "Reprinted from the Journal of experimental zoology, vol. 36, no. 1, July, 1922." Bibliography: p. 46-47. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, 1921. / "Private edition, distributed by the University of Chicago libraries, Chicago, Illinois." "Reprinted from the American journal of physiology, vol. LVII, no. 2, September, 1921." Bibliography: p. 385-386. Also available on the Internet.

Bioelectric fields are involved in patterning during embryonic development and play roles in regenerative growth and wound healing. Planaria are flatworms capable of regenerating whole new intact organisms from tiny portions of tissue, owing to a widespread population of adult somatic stem cells known as neoblasts. Previous research has suggested that an endogenous bioelectric field may contribute to the control of axial polarity and regenerative fate during planarian regeneration. By establishing novel techniques, we further investigated this hypothesis in experimentally relevant planarian species Dugesia japonica and Schmidtea mediterranea. Techniques were developed to measure transepithelial potential (TEP), record epithelial ion transport and apply exogenous electric fields to test the hypothesis that an endogenous electrical gradient contributes to axial regenerative polarity in planaria. We found that in the mesenchymal spaces of Dugesia japonica and Schmidtea mediterranea, a voltage gradient exists such that the head region is more negative than the tail. Importantly, this voltage gradient is maintained in regenerating amputated tissue fragments. Disrupting this endogenous electric field by means of exogenous DC electric field application induced regenerative anomalies affecting the anteroposterior axis. Reversal of the TEP gradient and regenerative polarity was achieved by application of an electric field that opposed the direction of the worm's natural electrical polarity, suggesting that the natural electrical gradient contributes to the control of polarity establishment during planarian regeneration.

Atualmente, diversas formulações de herbicidas a base de glifosato estão disponíveis no mercado. No entanto, diferentes surfactantes são também adicionados às formulações a fim de aumentar a eficácia do produto, o que pode contribuir significativamente para o aumento da toxicidade do herbicida aos organismos não alvos. Este estudo avaliou a genotoxicidade e o estresse oxidativo em planárias aquáticas (Dugesia schubarti) expostas às formulações de glifosato Roundup Original, Roundup Transorb e Roundup Ready. As planárias foram expostas à soluções de 0.5 mg/L de equivalente ácido de glifosato das três formulações durante 4, 8 e 16h. A genotoxicidade foi avaliada através do ensaio cometa e o estresse oxidativo foi medido através da atividade das enzimas superóxido dismutase (Sod) e catalase (Cat) e pelas substâncias reativas com o ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS). Todas as formulações foram capazes de induzir danos ao DNA e estresse oxidativo. A atividade de Sod aumentou entre 4 e 16h, enquanto os níveis de TBARS diminuíram entre 4 e 16h de tratamento. A atividade de Cat permaneceu diminuída em todos os tempos de exposição para as três formulações testadas. Esses resultados demonstram que formulações de herbicida contendo glifosato são capazes de causar dano ao DNA e alterar o balanço oxidativo em planárias indicando que a toxicidade deste herbicida não está restrita às plantas. / Submitted by Marcelo Teixeira (mvteixeira@ucs.br) on 2014-05-30T16:17:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Diana Lilian Bordin.pdf: 300600 bytes, checksum: 95ba8b94d9994115a4d1aaa7a0f08bc0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-30T16:17:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Diana Lilian Bordin.pdf: 300600 bytes, checksum: 95ba8b94d9994115a4d1aaa7a0f08bc0 (MD5) / Currently, several glyphosate-based herbicide formulations are available in the market. However, different surfactants are also added to the formulation in order to increase the effectiveness of the product, what it can contribute significantly to the toxic effect exerted by the herbicide to the non target organisms. This study evaluated the genotoxicity and the oxidative stress in freshwater planarians exposed to the glyphosate formulations Roundup Original, Roundup Transorb and Roundup Ready. The planarians were submitted to 0.5 mg/L of glyphosate formulations during 4, 8, and 16h. The genotoxicity was evaluated through comet assay, and the oxidative stress was measured through the superoxide dismutase (Sod) and catalase (Cat) activity and by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). All three formulations were able to induce genotoxicity and to disturb the antioxidants activity in different ways. While Sod increased between 4 and 16h, TBARS decreased between 4 and 16h, and Cat stayed depressed during all time-points tested. These results demonstrate that herbicide formulations which contend glyphosate can induce damage to the DNA and to modify the oxidative balance in planarians, indicating that the toxicity of this herbicide is not restricted to the plants.

Atualmente, diversas formulações de herbicidas a base de glifosato estão disponíveis no mercado. No entanto, diferentes surfactantes são também adicionados às formulações a fim de aumentar a eficácia do produto, o que pode contribuir significativamente para o aumento da toxicidade do herbicida aos organismos não alvos. Este estudo avaliou a genotoxicidade e o estresse oxidativo em planárias aquáticas (Dugesia schubarti) expostas às formulações de glifosato Roundup Original, Roundup Transorb e Roundup Ready. As planárias foram expostas à soluções de 0.5 mg/L de equivalente ácido de glifosato das três formulações durante 4, 8 e 16h. A genotoxicidade foi avaliada através do ensaio cometa e o estresse oxidativo foi medido através da atividade das enzimas superóxido dismutase (Sod) e catalase (Cat) e pelas substâncias reativas com o ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS). Todas as formulações foram capazes de induzir danos ao DNA e estresse oxidativo. A atividade de Sod aumentou entre 4 e 16h, enquanto os níveis de TBARS diminuíram entre 4 e 16h de tratamento. A atividade de Cat permaneceu diminuída em todos os tempos de exposição para as três formulações testadas. Esses resultados demonstram que formulações de herbicida contendo glifosato são capazes de causar dano ao DNA e alterar o balanço oxidativo em planárias indicando que a toxicidade deste herbicida não está restrita às plantas. / Currently, several glyphosate-based herbicide formulations are available in the market. However, different surfactants are also added to the formulation in order to increase the effectiveness of the product, what it can contribute significantly to the toxic effect exerted by the herbicide to the non target organisms. This study evaluated the genotoxicity and the oxidative stress in freshwater planarians exposed to the glyphosate formulations Roundup Original, Roundup Transorb and Roundup Ready. The planarians were submitted to 0.5 mg/L of glyphosate formulations during 4, 8, and 16h. The genotoxicity was evaluated through comet assay, and the oxidative stress was measured through the superoxide dismutase (Sod) and catalase (Cat) activity and by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). All three formulations were able to induce genotoxicity and to disturb the antioxidants activity in different ways. While Sod increased between 4 and 16h, TBARS decreased between 4 and 16h, and Cat stayed depressed during all time-points tested. These results demonstrate that herbicide formulations which contend glyphosate can induce damage to the DNA and to modify the oxidative balance in planarians, indicating that the toxicity of this herbicide is not restricted to the plants.

In this study, the presence and possible function of endocannabinoid ligands in the planarian is investigated. The endocannabinoids ananadamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and entourage NAE compounds palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), stearoylethanolamide (SEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA) were found in Dugesia dorotocephala. Changes in SEA, PEA, and AEA levels were observed over the initial twelve hours of active regeneration. Exogenously applied AEA, 2-AG and their catabolic inhibition effected biphasic changes in locomotor velocity, analogous to those observed in murines. The genome of a close relative, Schmidtea mediterranea, courtesy of the University of Utah S. med genome database, was explored for cannabinoid receptors, none were found. A putative fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) homolog was found in Schmidtea mediterranea.