Terahertz pulses induce segment renewal via cell proliferation and differentiation overriding the endogenous regeneration program of the earthworm Eisenia andrei

Mahmoud H Abufadda; Anita Erdélyi; Edit Pollák; Priyo S Nugraha; János Hebling; József A Fülöp; László Molnár

doi:10.1364/BOE.416158

Terahertz pulses induce segment renewal via cell proliferation and differentiation overriding the endogenous regeneration program of the earthworm Eisenia andrei

Biomed Opt Express. 2021 Mar 9;12(4):1947-1961. doi: 10.1364/BOE.416158. eCollection 2021 Apr 1.

Authors

Mahmoud H Abufadda^{1

2}, Anita Erdélyi³, Edit Pollák³, Priyo S Nugraha^{1

4

2}, János Hebling^{1

4

2}, József A Fülöp^{1

4

5}, László Molnár³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Physics, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary.
² MTA-PTE High-Field Terahertz Research Group, Pécs, 7624, Hungary.
³ Institute of Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary.
⁴ Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary.
⁵ ELI-ALPS, ELI-HU Nonprofit Ltd., Szeged, 6728, Hungary.

Abstract

Terahertz (THz) irradiation of excised Eisenia andrei earthworms is shown to cause overriding of the genetically determined, endogenously mediated segment renewing capacity of the model animal. Single-cycle THz pulses of 5 µJ energy, 0.30 THz mean frequency, 293 kV/cm peak electric field, and 1 kHz repetition rate stimulated the cell proliferation (indicated by the high number of mitotic cells) and both histogenesis and organogenesis, producing a significantly higher number of regenerated segments. The most conspicuous alteration in THz-treated animals was the more intense development of the new central nervous system and blood vessels. These results clearly demonstrate that THz pulses are capable to efficiently trigger biological processes and suggest potential applications in medicine.