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ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL DETECTION OF SUBLETHAL NEUROTOXIC EFFECTS IN INTACT EARTHWORMS
Citation:
Drewes, C., E. Vining, AND C. Callahan. ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL DETECTION OF SUBLETHAL NEUROTOXIC EFFECTS IN INTACT EARTHWORMS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-85/002.
Description:
The nervous system of earthworms is a logical site for studying the deleterious effects of many toxic substances because neural functions are often more sensitive to disruption than other physiological processes. However, the sublethal effects of toxicants on neural and behavioral functions may be subtle and their detection and quantification may require use of relatively sophisticated electrophysiological testing methods. These methods permit assessment of the sublethal effects of various toxicants on nervous system function and motor activity in a wide variety of earthworm species of all ages.