A GOLGI APPARATUS ASSOCIATED WITH MATING IN TETRAHYMENA PYRIFORMIS

Abstract

The classical Golgi apparatus has not been observed in the several strains of Tetrahymena pyriformis examined in this laboratory at the ultrastructural level when the ciliates are grown vegetatively. However, sexually active strains, when starved for the purpose of inducing conjugation, contain stacked saccules in the oral region. When such opposite mating types are mixed for mating, the stacked saccules become swollen at their ends and vesicles appear to pinch off from them. These bodies possess the configuration of the classical Golgi apparatus of other eucells. Vesicles seem to be formed from the saccules just prior to, and toward the end of conjugation, suggesting a relationship with the mating process.

Development of the Polar Filament‐Polaroplast Complex in a Microsporidian Parasite*

“…In the microsporidian parasite described in this report the Golgi reaches its maximum complexity at the same time that it starts to produce the posterior part of the filament. Sudden appearance of a Golgi complex has been reported in association with mating in the ciliate Tetrahymena pyrifoirnis ( 6 ) . The production of the polar filament in microsporidian parasites also has a role in reproduction ( 11 ) , It appears that the Golgi complex in the microsporidian assumes 2 different functions from its 2 faces.…”

“…The anterior part of the filament was wedged into the base of the filament, and its central, dense core appeared fused with the base (Figs. 4, 6). Close to the base, the anterior part of the filament was 180 nm in diameter, but as it curved posterolaterally through the anterior third of the organism it quickly tapered to a diameter of 90 nm and became surrounded by the polaroplast (Figs.…”

The Development of Golgi Complexes and Their Dependence Upon the Nucleus in Amebae

“…The number of small cisternae aligned in parallel to form stacks identifiable as Golgi complexes increased with time after renucleation . This may be due to the progressive alignment of single cisternae, as appears to be the case in the formation of Golgi complexes in conjugating Tetrahymena (Elliott and Zieg, 1968) .…”

Neutral red granules and food vacuoles in Tetrahymena pyriformis

“…Acid phosphomonoesterase activity has been studied in Trichonympha turkestancia by El Mofty (1957), and Rosenbaum and Wittner (19^2) studied this group of enzymes in-2* caudatum. In T_« "pyriformis acid phosphatase localization has been, studied by Elliott and Hunter (1951), Seaman (l9^1a), Elliott and Bak (196U), Klamer and Fennell (1963), Elliott (1965), Elliott and demons (1966), Elliott and Zieg (1968), and Levy and Elliott (I968 In many of the studies of enzyme activity, an attençt has been made to identify the activity with feeding or the mechanism of digestion iu protozoa. The relation of neutral red to this phenomenon has been almost entirely disregarded in recent years.…”

“…For acid phosphatase localization the ciliâtes were treated according to the method originally described by Gomori (1952) as modified "by Elliott and Zieg (1968), Controls for this procedure were maintained by eliminating the glycerophosphate substrate.…”