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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Physiological Responses Of The American Lobster Cardiovascular System To Neuropeptide Sgrnflrfamide (Sgrn), Andre Eden Jan 2024

Physiological Responses Of The American Lobster Cardiovascular System To Neuropeptide Sgrnflrfamide (Sgrn), Andre Eden

Honors Projects

During every second of a human’s life, the cardiovascular system is modulated by factors both intrinsic and extrinsic to the physiology of the heart. We can uncover new insights regarding the nature of our system through investigations of similar systems in other model species. One example materializes itself in the form of the American Lobster (Homarus americanus) whose single-chambered heart finds resemblance to the function and anatomy to that of humans. The lobster heart is powered by the cardiac ganglion (CG), a group of neurons that drive contractions of surrounding heart muscles, known as the myocardium. Both the …


Peripheral Modulation Of Cardiac Contractions In The American Lobster, Homarus Americanus, By The Peptide Myosuppressin Is Mediated By Effects On The Cardiac Muscle Itself, Isabel Stella Petropoulos Jan 2023

Peripheral Modulation Of Cardiac Contractions In The American Lobster, Homarus Americanus, By The Peptide Myosuppressin Is Mediated By Effects On The Cardiac Muscle Itself, Isabel Stella Petropoulos

Honors Projects

A substantial factor for behavioral flexibility is modulation — largely via neuropeptides — which occurs at multiple sites including neurons, muscles, and the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Complex modulation distributed across multiple sites provides an interesting question: does modulation at multiple locations lead to greater dynamics than one receptor site alone? The cardiac neuromuscular system of the American lobster (Homarus americanus), driven by a central pattern generator called the cardiac ganglion (CG), is a model system for peptide modulation. The peptide myosuppressin (pQDLDHVFLRFamide) has been shown in the whole heart to decrease contraction frequency, largely due to its effects on …


The Effects Of Temperature On The Cardiac System Of The American Lobster, Homarus Americanus, Elizabeth A. Owens May 2014

The Effects Of Temperature On The Cardiac System Of The American Lobster, Homarus Americanus, Elizabeth A. Owens

Honors Projects

The American lobster, Homarus americanus, inhabits a large oceanic range spanning from Labrador, Canada to North Carolina, USA. This geographic range varies in temperature by as much as 25ºC, and daily temperature fluctuations of up to 12ºC may occur at a single location depending on season, water depth, and tides. The cardiac system of the lobster is sensitive to these temperature changes, and has been shown to adjust its functioning over a large temperature range. A previous study showed that various functional parameters respond differently to temperature changes, but a stable cardiac output can be maintained over the range …


Dendrites Of Cardiac Ganglion Regulate Heartbeat Of American Lobster, Homarus Americanus, Through Stretch Feedback, Mara R. Chin-Purcell May 2014

Dendrites Of Cardiac Ganglion Regulate Heartbeat Of American Lobster, Homarus Americanus, Through Stretch Feedback, Mara R. Chin-Purcell

Honors Projects

Central pattern generators are neuronal networks that produce reliable rhythmic motor output. A simple pattern generator, known as the cardiac ganglion (CG), controls the heart of the American lobster, Homarus americanus. Previous studies have suggested that stretch feedback relays information to the cardiac ganglion about the degree of filling in the heart, and that this feedback is mediated by stretch-sensitive dendrites extending from CG neurons. I sought to determine the mechanisms behind this stretch feedback pathway. One hundred second extension pyramids were applied to each heart while amplitude and frequency of contractions were recorded; 87% of hearts responded to …