Type of Presentation
Presentation
Type of Project
Project I/II
Presenter 1 Program
INSC
Presenter 1 Location
Harrisburg University
Project Description
Although general anesthesia is a condition of controlled unconsciousness, its mechanisms are not completely known. Anesthesia has an impact on the body by obstructing the flow of nerve impulses, which impacts sensation and muscular movement. Few studies have looked into the effects of anesthetics on plants, compared to the numerous studies that have been done on their effects on people and animals. The unusual plant known as the venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipulai) reacts to touch cues very quickly. An action potential is created when a bug makes contact with the trigger hairs on the head of the Venus flytrap. The Venus flytrap's head closes as a result of the action potential activating the motor cells. After the insect's head has closed, digestive enzymes are released and the bug is digested. Venus flytraps are less responsive to physical stimuli when administered anesthetics like diethyl ether, according to a number of studies. Inhaled anesthetics such as diethyl ether are uncommon because of their elevated flammability. Sevoflurane, a non-flammable substitute, has a shorter half-life in tissues than diethyl ether; this causes a rapid induction and recovery time in both people and animals. To find out if sevoflurane anesthetics affect Venus flytraps similarly to how they affect people and other animals, the effects of sevoflurane on the Venus flytrap were compared to those of diethyl ether. Venus flytraps were subjected to progressively higher sevoflurane exposure levels and contrasted with the previously published diethyl exposure levels. Trigger hairs were manually stimulated after exposure, and response times were documented. Compared to diethyl ether, sevoflurane had a higher dose-dependent impact on the Venus flytraps' response time than it did on people and animals. These findings suggest that the metabolism and mode of action of sevoflurane in Venus flytrap may vary depending on the animal species.
Faculty Member
Richard Jackson MD. Erica Ward
The effect of sevoflurane anesthetics on Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) compared to diethyl ether anesthetics
Although general anesthesia is a condition of controlled unconsciousness, its mechanisms are not completely known. Anesthesia has an impact on the body by obstructing the flow of nerve impulses, which impacts sensation and muscular movement. Few studies have looked into the effects of anesthetics on plants, compared to the numerous studies that have been done on their effects on people and animals. The unusual plant known as the venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipulai) reacts to touch cues very quickly. An action potential is created when a bug makes contact with the trigger hairs on the head of the Venus flytrap. The Venus flytrap's head closes as a result of the action potential activating the motor cells. After the insect's head has closed, digestive enzymes are released and the bug is digested. Venus flytraps are less responsive to physical stimuli when administered anesthetics like diethyl ether, according to a number of studies. Inhaled anesthetics such as diethyl ether are uncommon because of their elevated flammability. Sevoflurane, a non-flammable substitute, has a shorter half-life in tissues than diethyl ether; this causes a rapid induction and recovery time in both people and animals. To find out if sevoflurane anesthetics affect Venus flytraps similarly to how they affect people and other animals, the effects of sevoflurane on the Venus flytrap were compared to those of diethyl ether. Venus flytraps were subjected to progressively higher sevoflurane exposure levels and contrasted with the previously published diethyl exposure levels. Trigger hairs were manually stimulated after exposure, and response times were documented. Compared to diethyl ether, sevoflurane had a higher dose-dependent impact on the Venus flytraps' response time than it did on people and animals. These findings suggest that the metabolism and mode of action of sevoflurane in Venus flytrap may vary depending on the animal species.