Universidad De Morón Nicotine and Tetrahymena Cells Lab Report

Cell Biology Lab Report about The effects of E-Cigarette on Tetrahymena Phagocytosis.  

Introduction (2-3 pages)

1. Background Information (1-2 pages)
   1. Write information on tetrahymena cells with sources/citations
   2. Write information about cigarette/nicotine/e-cig use with sources/citations
2. Purpose (My purpose includes:) – The purpose of this experiment in the cell biology lab is to determine whether the presence of 25 mg/mL nicotine in deionized water has an effect on the number of digestive vacuoles in tetrahymena cells. Additionally, we aim to analyze how different time intervals affect this formation to provide more evidence. 
3. Hypothesis (My hypothesis includes:) – If there’s an exposure between tetrahymena cells and nicotine that contains water, at a concentration of 25 mg/mL in DI water, it will result in a reduction of the number of digestive vacuoles containing ink during the exposure of the cells compared to the cells that are only exposed to DI water since an elimination of the cilia occurs. 

E-cigarettes were introduced to the US cigarette market in 2007 but became more popular around 2015. As of 2022, 1 in every 10 teenagers use e-cigarettes, which includes middle and high school students, with a population of over 2.5 million people (Products, 2022). E-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is a chemical that travels to your brain within moments of taking a puff which increases neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitter in the brain regulates the behavior and mood of one person. The bloodstream absorbs the nicotine and goes right above your kidney to the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands produce adrenaline which causes your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing to increase. Adrenaline is associated with producing positive emotions, as it causes the feeling of being excited, resulting in individuals becoming addicted to the feeling. Tetrahymena are eukaryotic cells which are collectively known as protozoans which contain cilia, which look like hundreds of hair strands that cover the surface. Tetrahymena has served as an effective model for fundamental research in part because it is simple to cultivate in culture and displays a variety of sophisticated activities in a single cell (Smith et al., 2012). Within the cell, cilia move like waves and in the environment allow the cells to swim through. It also acts as the nutrient material into the cytostome which is located in the depression or oral groove.            The effects of e-cigarette liquid on Tetrahymena cells were tested to determine if they can survive. At Cornell University, an experiment using basic cell processes in Tetrahymena cells that are similar with processes in related human cell types, such as those of the cilia that assist in expelling toxic inhalations from the lungs. The results showed that the Tetrahymena cells were consistent in motion, but once the e-cigarette liquid was added to the environment, the cells immediately fell to the bottom and were not able to move (Cordova, 2020).Two types of Glycerol, which are chemicals that are used on a daily basis, Propylene glycol and glycerin, are two components in e-cigarettes. As more diseases are linked to the use of e-cigarettes, such as acute respiratory disease, people began wondering if these two components are safe for them to smoke in the c-cigar. Though not only they can be used in this way, they are also a common component in processing foods, as we are in the cosmetics and pharmacy departments. Furthermore, they are used to help run cars, while these chemicals are included within the antifreeze section of a vehicle.PurposeThe purpose of the experiment was to expose Tetrahymena cultures, since they are similar to human cells, to see how long the vacuoles stay alive with nicotine as well as deionized water.Hypothesis            For experiment 1, the hypothesis was: If Tetrahymena culture is exposed to E-cigarette liquid containing 25 mg/mL nicotine, 5% propylene glycol, and 60% glycerin, then less vacuoles than the control with ink will be formed in the Tetrahymena cells.            For experiment 2, the hypothesis was: If Tetrahymena culture is exposed to 25 mg/mL nicotine in deionized water, then less vacuoles than the control with ink will appear in the Tetrahymena cells due to the ciliary activity.