Abstract Cocaine use has drastically increased in the United States over the past decade. Cocaine

Physiological Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Leopard Frog, Rana pipiensAbstract ResultsPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogens that our lab has found in Illinois River sediment. The consequences of in Anna Sasser and Crystal Schulte•As expected, increasing the stimulus to the isolated muscle produced increased contractile force (Figures 2-5). situ PAH exposure have not been documented. Therefore, this study used in-water column exposures to determine the effect of PAHs on muscle tissue contractility in leopard frogs. The results show that PAHs cause a significant decrease in muscle contractile tension, Department of Biology, Bradley University•At 6 V, there were no significant differences in the control versus PAH-exposed frogs in non-exercised frogs. Exercise of control which limits exercise tolerance. Under natural water exposures, contaminated muscles may be inefficient in performing normal physiological functions, possibly compromising the ability of the animal to survive. and PAH-exposed frogs resulted in a significant contractile force (Figure 2) .Faculty Advisor: Dr. Erich K. Stabenau•At 12 V, contractile force of isolated muscle was not affected by PAH exposure and/or exercise (Figure 3).18 18Introduction -PAH, -ex15 15 +PAH, -exFigure 1. Illinois River sampling area. •At an increased electrical challenge of 24 V, a significant decrease in contractile force was measured in frogs exercised to -PAH, -ex-PAH, ...