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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

Novel thrombolytic therapy discovered from traditional oriental medicine using the earthworm.

Since a few thousand years ago, the earthworm has been used as a drug for various diseases in China and the Far East. However, modern scientific pharmacological studies have not so far been performed. We extracted a very strong fibrinolytic enzyme from the earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus. This enzyme was heat-stable and displayed a very broad optimal pH range. Purification of the enzyme was performed and three partially purified fractions were obtained. These three fractions were further subdivided, and six purified fractions (F-I-0, 1, 2, F-II, and F-III-1,2) were finally obtained. Based on results of their enzymatic activities against various substrates, the fraction I enzymes are thought to represent chymotrypsin-like enzymes and the fraction III enzymes to represent trypsin-like enzymes. The fraction II enzyme appears to be neither a trypsin-nor chymotrypsin-like enzyme nor an elastase. We therefore designed trials for in vivo experiments on human volunteers. 120 mg of lyophilized earthworm powder was administered orally to 7 healthy volunteers (aged 28-52 years old) three times after meals every day for 17 days. Blood was withdrawn once a day before and at 1, 2, 3, 8, 11 and 17 days after commencing the administration. The fibrin degradation products (FDP) value, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen level and t-PA activities were measured in the blood. Before the administration, the t-PA antigen level was 5.6 +/- 0.38 ng/ml, and it gradually increased until the 17th day. The FDP level was increased on the 1st and 2nd day after the administration, but had decreased and normalized by the 17th day. The fibrinolytic activities also tended to show an increase during the experiment. These results suggest that earthworm powder represents a possible oral thrombolytic agent. The earthworm enzyme may thus be applicable for treating patients with thalassemia.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2005

[Acute toxicological effects of excessive Cu and Zn-containing in pig manure on earthworm].

Cu and Zn are popularly used as additives in animal feed in China, which could result in their excessive accumulation in manure to a toxic level, and thus, possibly threaten the environment when the manure is applied to farmland. In this paper, the acute and sub-acute lethal effects of pig manure with excessive Cu and Zn on earthworm were studied, and the results indicated that the concentration of Cu and Zn in pig manure had a significantly positive correlation with the mortality of earthworm, while a significantly negative correlation with earthworm growth rate. The individuals of earthworm had different tolerance to excessive Cu and Zn, with the threshold values causing death being 250 mg x kg(-1) and 400 mg x kg(-1) for Cu and Zn, respectively. The LD50 was 646.68 mg x kg(-1) for Cu, and 947.38 mg x kg(-1) for Zn. A strong synergistic effect was observed under the combined pollution of 250 mg x kg(-1) for Cu and 500 mg x kg(-1) for Zn, whereas antagonistic effect happened when 750 mg x kg(-1) for Cu was supplied, suggesting that the joint toxic effects of Cu and Zn on earthworm were closely correlated to their concentrations in pig manure.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

[Effects of earthworm activity on phosphorus fraction and available phosphorus content in red soil].

By the methods of incubation test and Hedley's phosphorus fractionation, this paper studied the effects of inoculating earthworm (Pheretinma pingi) on the phosphorus fractions and available phosphorus contents in red soil. The results showed that during a 100-day incubation, earthworm inoculation combined with organic materials (rice straw RS, peanut residue PR, and rape residue RR) amendment increased significantly the content of soil available phosphorus. Statistics analysis showed that there was a significant difference in soil available phosphorus content between treatments PR or RR with and without earthworm inoculation. Compared with the contents of anion-exchange resin P(trace), NaCO3-soluble P(14.5 mg x kg(-1)) and microbial P(1.0 mg x kg(-1)) in CK, those in treatments of earthworm inoculation plus organic materials amendment increased to 10.5 - 17.8 mg kg(-1), 23.5-35.6 mg x kg(-1), and 6.8 - 9.7 mg x kg(-1), respectively, organic phosphorus content enhanced from 37.9 mg x kg(-1) to 50.7-59.3 mg x kg(-1), whereas residual P was reduced. Earthworm performed an activated effect on the availability of phosphorus in red soil.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

[Use of earthworms as a protein supplement in diets for rabbits].

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the nutritive value of earthworms as protein feed in rabbit rations. Earthworm meal was obtained from Eisenia foetida and Lumbricus rubellus. Its proximate chemical composition, amino acid composition and protein digestibility in vitro were determined. In addition, growing rabbits were fed a diet containing 30% of the total protein as earthworm meal, diet which was compared with a control diet containing soybean meal as protein feed. Both diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion and apparent digestibility were measured. Results showed high protein (50.86%) and fat (10.16%) contents, and low fiber percentage (2.67%). Amino acids content including the essential, and in vitro protein digestibility percentage were similar to fish and meat meals and higher than soybean meal. There were no differences in feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion. Apparent digestibility was 5.09% higher (P less than 0.05) with the diet containing earthworm meal than with the control diet. It was concluded that it is possible to substitute 30% of the protein in the diet of growing rabbits, with earthworm meal, without any adverse physiological effects. Similar results to those achieved when conventional protein supplements are used for rabbit rations, were obtained.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1980

The possible role of the soil fauna in the epizootiology of cysticercosis in cattle. I. Earthworms -- the biotic factor in a transmission of Taenia saginata eggs.

The role of earthworms in the transmission of Taenia saginata eggs was determined by inoculating 30 earthworms directly: lumbricus terrestris, Allolobophora caliginosa and Eisenia foetida with tapeworm eggs. The remaining earthworms (280 specimens) were examined by contaminating their medium indirectly with T. saginata eggs or segments. It has been concluded that the eggs of tapeworms may be transmitted by the digestive tracts of earthworms. It seems that in the natural environment earthworms may contribute to the horizontal and the vertical spreading eggs in soil and the same may play an important role in the epizootiology of cysticercosis in cattle.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Extent and mechanism of sealing in transected giant axons of squid and earthworms.

Transected axons are often assumed to seal at their cut ends by the formation of continuous membrane barriers that allow for the restoration of function in the axonal stumps. We have used several electrophysiological measures (membrane potential, input resistance, injury current density) and several morphological measures (phase-contrast, video-enhanced differential interference contrast, light, and electron microscopies) of living and fixed material to assess the extent and mechanism of sealing within hours after transecting giant axons of squid (Loligo pealei and Sepioteuthis lessoniana) and earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris). Our electrophysiological data suggest that the proximal and distal ends of transected squid giant axons do not completely seal within 2.5 hr in physiological saline. In contrast, the same set of measures suggest that proximal and distal ends of transected earthworm giant axons seal within 1 hr in physiological saline. Our morphological data show that the cut ends of both squid and earthworm axons constrict, but that a 20-70-microns-diameter opening always remains at the cut end that is filled with vesicles. Axonal transection induces the formation of vesicles that are observed in the axoplasm within minutes in standard salines and that rapidly migrate to the cut ends. These injury-induced vesicles are loosely packed near the cut ends of squid giant axons, which do not functionally seal within 2.5 hr of transection. In contrast, vesicles formed a tightly packed plug at the cut ends of earthworm medial giant axons, which do functionally seal within 1 hr of transection in physiological saline. Since we detect no single continuous membrane that spans the cut end, sealing does not appear to occur by the fusion of constricted axolemmal membrane or the formation of a membranous partition at the cut end. Rather, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that a tightly packed vesicular plug is responsible for sealing of earthworm giant axons.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Hexaconazole enantiomers drive the dissemination and risks of antibiotic resistance genes in the soil-earthworm system.

Chiral fungicides constitute a substantial proportion of commonly used pesticides; however, the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in agricultural settings under repeated exposure to different enantiomers is still unclear. Here, the prevalence and potential risks of ARGs were investigated in the soil-earthworm ecosystem when exposed to hexaconazole (HEX) enantiomers. Metagenomic analysis indicated that R-HEX and S-HEX facilitated the dissemination of ARGs in soil without earthworms, but this effect diminished with successive exposures. Notably, S-HEX exhibited a greater effect on ARG profiles compared to R-HEX. Furthermore, HEX enantiomers, particularly S-HEX, increased the mobility potential of ARGs and enhanced host pathogenicity, thereby contributing to elevated ecological risks. Specifically, exposure to the HEX enantiomer led to an enrichment of dominant pathogenic ARG hosts, such as Enterobacteriaceae. Importantly, earthworms alleviated the enantiomer-driven dissemination of ARGs and weakened their association with mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Overall, this study offers novel perspectives on the enantiomer-driven propagation of ARGs induced by the chiral pesticide hexaconazole in soil and highlights the role of earthworms in mitigating ARG contamination. These findings contribute significantly to the risk assessment and remediation strategies for chiral pesticides.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Cell adhesion and the immune system: a case study using earthworms.

In the earthworm's immune system, cell adhesion, which occurs by putative receptors on leukocytes, is essential after recognition of self vs. non-self. Confrontation with foreign antigens is a normal event in the environment, replete with microbial pathogens that pose a threat to survival. To better understand what happens when an effector cell first recognizes a foreign target followed by its adhesion to it, isolated leukocytes, in sufficient quantities to be subjected to various analyses, have been extremely beneficial. In vitro approaches when accompanied by biochemical, immunological, and molecular technologies, have opened up new vistas concerning the immune response of earthworms and other invertebrates. The most recent discovery includes the preliminary identification of cell differentiation (CD) markers that play vital roles in recognitive and adhesive events. Certain leukocyte effectors show characteristics of natural killer (NK) cells that may act differently depending upon their source, whether autogeneic, allogeneic, xenogeneic, or expressed under normal or varying environmental conditions including exposure to xenobiotics. At the level of earthworm evolution, there is apparently a dissociation of phagocytosis from the process of killing by NK-like effectors. There are at least three future challenges. First, it is essential to determine the precise nature of the CD markers with respect to their molecular structure. Second, once their molecular and biochemical characteristics have been defined, the role of these markers in cellular and humoral mechanisms must be clarified in order to define effector cell products and resulting immune responses. Third, there is a need to differentiate between the several lytic factors that have been found in earthworms with respect to molecular structure, and biochemical and functional characterization.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Serological evidences for a membrane structure related to human beta 2-microglobulin expressed by certain earthworm leukocytes.

Indirect immunofluorescence performed with 2 polyclonal and 4 monoclonal antibodies directed against human beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) revealed the presence of a beta 2m-like determinant on the membrane of a subpopulation of earthworm leukocytes classified as weakly adherent acidophils. Two out of the 4 monoclonal antibodies were found to bind to 15% of the earthworm leukocytes. Similar results were obtained with antibodies specific for beta 2m and isolated by affinity chromatography from either polyclonal antiserum or anti-beta 2m hybridoma supernatant. Additional binding inhibition and competition experiments strengthened the results and suggested that the homology between the structure present on earthworm leukocytes and human beta 2m may be restricted to only one major determinant. The existence of a beta 2m-like molecule in earthworms may provide important clues for understanding protein evolution and basic immune mechanisms.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Acute and sublethal effects of two insecticides on earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) under laboratory conditions.

Earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) were exposed to commercial formulations of endosulfan and aldicarb for 2, 7, and 15 days, and the LC(10), LC(25), and LC(50) were determined. Worms were then exposed to LC(10), LC(25), and LC(50) concentrations of endosulfan and LC(10) and LC(25) concentrations of aldicarb. The growth rate and total protein content were determined and related to endosulfan and aldicarb residues in soil and earthworms. Aldicarb was more toxic than endosulfan under the experimental conditions. The residues of endosulfan and aldicarb caused a significant reduction in the growth rate and total protein content of earthworms. The residues of endosulfan and aldicarb were monitored in soil and earthworms after 2, 7, and 15 days of exposure. The residues remaining in the soil after the experiments ranged between 37.75% and 68.54% of the applied concentration for endosulfan and between 10.13% and 67.71% of the applied concentration for aldicarb. Small amounts of both insecticides were detected in worms, and accumulation was more important for endosulfan. This study proposes the use of growth rate and total protein content as biomarkers for contamination by endosulfan and aldicarb.

Aldicarb↗

PubMed2000

Biomarkers in earthworms.

Earthworms are believed to be so-called key species within ecosystems and are often exposed to a wide range of anthropogenic compounds released to the terrestrial environment. As a consequence, they may suffer from the toxicity of these compounds. For these and other reasons, earthworms have been used extensively in ecotoxicological studies. In recent years the use of other biological responses (biomarkers) to estimate either exposure or resultant effects of chemicals has received increased attention. Biomarkers address the question of bioavailability by only responding to the bioactive fraction. They may incorporate effects following exposure to a mixture of chemicals. Biomarkers may also reduce extrapolation of results from the laboratory to the field, as they may be applicable under both conditions. The present review has drawn together current knowledge on potential biomarkers in earthworms and appraised them in relation to basic requirements needed for supplying information relevant to devising satisfactory risk assessment. A wide range of potential biomarkers have been measured in earthworms, including DNA alteration, induction of metal-binding proteins (MTs and MBP), depression of ChE activity and other enzymatic responses, energy reserve responses, responses in neural impulse conductivity, lysosomal membrane stability, immunological responses, changes in sperm numbers, histopathological changes, and behavioral changes. Both organic and inorganic compounds have been included; however, for each biomarker the main emphasis historically has been placed on only a few chemicals. Dose-response relationships were in some cases observed. Little information is available on the linkage of the biomarker response to effects at population or community levels. The influence of other factors, biotic and abiotic, on the biomarker responses and their temporal duration have been only sporadically reported.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Glycogen-lead relationship in the earthworm Dendrobaena rubida from a heavy metal site.

Control individuals contained no lead in the chloragocytes but high alpha-glycogen rosette reserves. Starvation of contaminated earthworms for 4d caused a lead loss and the chlorgocytes possessed fewer debris vesicles than those of unstarved worms, suggesting that the debris vesicles may be the route for at least some of the lead loss. No glycogen deposits were observed in the chloragocytes of starved or unstarved earthworms from contaminated soil. Maintenance of contaminated earthworms in potting compost caused lead losses similar to those sustained by starvation, but the chloragocyte cytoplasm possessed beta-glycogen reserves. Specimens maintained in lead-spiked potting compost showed lead levels similar to those of earthworms taken directly from contaminated soil. No beta-glycogen accumulations were observed under this enriched regime. Although the possible interference of lead in carbohydrate metabolism is discussed, the results do not wholly support metabolic inhibition by lead. It is hypothesised that lead sequestration is energy-demanding and that in the absence of an energy-rich diet glycogen stores fail to accumulate. In the presence of an organic-rich medium, elevated lead levels preclude glycogen formation, because of the high sequestration-demand, but at lower lead levels beta-glycogen deposits occur if a high organic diet is available.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

The transfer of lead (Pb) from earthworms to shrews (Myosorex varius).

Shrews (Myosorex varius) were bait-trapped close to Stellenbosch in the Western Cape, South Africa, and analyzed to determine the Pb content of the liver, kidneys, muscle tissue, brain, skull, and bone. Shrews were also fed in the laboratory on mince meat and Pb-contaminated live earthworms for 12-17 days and the Pb content compared with control shrews from the field. The Pb levels in the control shrews from the field were exceptionally high and exceeded levels generally considered to be critical for the onset of pathological symptoms in target organs. The shrews that were fed with Pb-contaminated earthworms had significantly higher Pb concentrations in their livers and kidneys than the control shrews. Given that Pb is bioaccumulated in earthworms, this study showed that predation on earthworms could constitute a major pathway for the entry of Pb into the food chain. M. varius could, similar to other species of shrews in other parts of the world, be a suitable biological monitor to study the environmental hazard of Pb pollution.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Platelet-activating factor and its structural analogues in the earthworm Eisenia foetida.

The earthworm Eisenia foetida was shown to contain large amounts of ether-containing phospholipids such as alkylacylglycerophosphocholine (61.3% of choline glycerophospholipids) and alkenylacylglycerophosphoethanolamine (66.0% of ethanolamine glycerophospholipids). We also found a substantial amount of ether-containing PAF-like lipid in this animal, its level being increased after the animal is injured. We showed evidence that this PAF-like lipid consists of PAF and PAF analogues containing short chain fatty acids other than acetic acid. Notably, a propionic acid-containing species but not PAF itself, is the most predominant species in this animal. We also confirmed that the earthworms contain enzyme activities involved in the synthesis of PAF and short chain fatty acid-containing PAF analogues. Interestingly, the acetyltransferase activity in earthworms is resistant to high concentrations of the substrate lysophospholipid. Thus, both the structure of the PAF-like lipid and the properties of the enzymes involved in the PAF-like lipid metabolism in the earthworms are somewhat different from those in mammalian tissues.

Acetyltransferases↗

PubMed1987

Occurrence of ceramide-glycanase in the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris.

We have detected the presence of ceramide-glycanase in the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris. We have also devised a simple method for the preparation of this enzyme from the earthworm. This enzyme cleaved the linkage between the ceramide and the glycan chain in LacCer, GbOse3Cer, GbOse4Cer, GbOse5Cer, GM3, GM2, GM1 and GD1a. By using tritium-labeled GM2 as substrate, the optimum pH of this enzyme was found to be between pH 4 and 4.5. In the earthworm, the ceramide-glycanase was mainly found in the muscle. The intestine was found to contain a very low level of this enzyme. Because of their easy availability, earthworms should become a convenient source for the preparation of ceramide-glycanase.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Chromatographic analysis of tropomyosins from rabbit skeletal, chicken gizzard and earthworm muscle.

Tropomyosins from rabbit skeletal, chicken gizzard and earthworm muscle all exist as dimeric, ca. 100% alpha-helical coiled-coil species in benign media. Two major tropomyosin isoforms from each muscle source have been identified and can be conveniently designated alpha (fast) and beta (slow) based on electrophoretic mobility under denaturing conditions. The ratio of alpha to beta chains is ca. 3-4:1 for rabbit skeletal and ca. 1:1 for chicken gizzard and earthworm tropomyosins. Each chain from the former two muscle sources has been sequenced, thus providing a molecular basis for interpreting the in vivo population of homo- and hetero-dimers. The characteristics of each purified tropomyosin in weak-anion exchange, strong-cation exchange and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography are described. Binding to and/or elution from the reversed-phase matrix results in dissociation into highly helical monomeric chains. This mode of chromatography separates the alpha and beta chains of earthworm and chicken gizzard tropomyosins, but not those of the rabbit protein. Both anion- and cation-exchange chromatography use mild (benign) elution conditions under which the native, in vivo dimer population should be preserved. Only the rabbit protein exhibited peak separation on the anion-exchange resin, with peak assignment corresponding to the known molecular organization of homo- and hetero-dimers. In strong cation-exchange analysis, all three tropomyosins exhibit a chromatographic transition near pH 6.5, possibly the result of histidine(s) titration. Collectively, the chromatographic data confirm the present understanding of the in vivo mixture of dimers for tropomyosin from rabbit skeletal and chicken gizzard. It is concluded that native earthworm tropomyosin exists predominantly as an alpha beta hetero-dimer.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Experimental accumulation of lead from soil through earthworms to common shrews.

Common shrews (Sorex araneus) were fed on earthworms containing high concentrations of lead. Both the earthworms and shrews originated from uncontaminated areas, but earthworms for the "lead" group of shrews were reared in the laboratory for 3 or 4 weeks in highly Pb-polluted soil from near an old lead smelter. The control group of shrews received the same amount of earthworms from the uncontaminated area. The acceptance of the experimental food by shrews was significantly lower in the lead group, indicating that the shrews were able to detect the lead in their food. After 2-31 days of feeding, the shrews in the lead group had significantly higher Pb concentrations in their liver, kidney, bone, and pelt than did the controls. Both the number of deaths during the experiment and the proportion of individuals with changes in kidney histology were significantly higher in the lead group.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Toxicity and bioaccumulation of chlorophenols in earthworms, in relation to bioavailability in soil.

The acute toxicity of five chlorophenols for two earthworm species was determined in two sandy soils differing in organic matter content and the results were compared with adsorption data. Adsorption increased with increasing organic matter content of the soils, but for tetra- and pentachlorophenol was also influenced by soil pH. Earthworm toxicity was significantly higher in the soil with a low level of organic matter. This difference disappeared when LC50 values were recalculated to concentrations in soil solution using adsorption data. Eisenia fetida andrei showed LC50 values lower than those of Lumbricus rubellus although bioaccumulation was generally higher in the latter species. Toxicity and bioaccumulation based on soil solution concentrations increased with increasing lipophilicity of the chlorophenols. The present results indicate that the toxicity and bioaccumulation and therefore the bioavailability of chlorophenols in soil to earthworms are dependent on the concentration in soil solution and can be predicted on the basis of adsorption data. Both the toxicity of and bioaccumulation data on chlorophenols in earthworms demonstrated surprisingly good agreement with those on chlorophenols in fish.

Adsorption↗