Ref ID : 3993
Takagi Yoshiomi, Yoshiki Yuko, Baba Chisako, and Yamada Seiji; Determination of Macronuclear Fragmentation, Stabilization of Cell Union, and Cessation of Feeding Activity in Triplet Conjugants of Paramecium. J.Protozool. 28(1):99-102, 1981
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Triplet conjugants of Paramecium multimicronucleatum, in each of which the third cell unites by its anterior end to a posterior part of one of the conjugating pair, are induced by conjugation-inducing chemicals, KCl and acriflavine in a Ca2+ -poor condition. If the triplets are prematurely transferred to medium free of such chemicals, the third cells usually separate and no macronuclear fragmentation occurs in them. But in third cells of long-lasting triplets, macronuclear fragmentation regularly begins at ~12 hr after chemical treatment. Stabilization of cell union and determination of macronuclear fragmentation occurred between ~100 and ~130 min after initiation of chemical treatment. Electron-microscopic observations of stabilized third cell revealed that the two cell membranes at the uniting region were partially fused to form cytoplasmic bridges. Chemically treated cells began to cease feeding before the cell union and fully ceased such activity at ~130 min after the treatment.