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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 993

A. Jurand; An electron microscope study of food vacuoles in Paramecium aurelia. J.Protozool. 8(2):125-130, 1961

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The food vacuoles of Paramecium aurelia, when examined in the electron microscope, are seen to be surrounded by small secondary vacuoles 0.05-2 um in diameter. Similar small vacuoles also surround the deepest part of the buccal cavity. Young food vacuoles, i.e. those containing well preserved bacteria, are encircled by a smooth vacuolar membrane. In older food vacuoles the vacuolar membrane in a transverse section often appears more wavy with small gulfs and protuberances. It is suggested that the small surrounding vacuoles are formed by the vaculolar membrane of older vacuoles by means of a process similar to pinocytosis. There is no evidence, however, that formation of small surrounding vacuoles takes place by pinocytosis in young food vacuoles. Examination of the cytoplasmic membrane of the deepest parts of the buccal cavity shows a similar process of vacuole formation by pinocytosis.