Ultrastructure of extrusomes in hypotrichous ciliate Pseudourostyla nova

• Published in: Chinese journal of oceanology and limnology Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 103 - 108
• Main Authors: Zhou, Yao, Wang, Zhengjun, Zhang, Jun, Gu, Fukang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg SP Science Press 2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biology; Cytochemistry; Cytoplasm; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Electron microscopy; Environmental effects; Enzymes; Food vacuoles; Golgi apparatus; Marine; Morphogenesis; Oceanography; Paramecium; Physical characteristics; Scanning electron microscopy; Transmission; Transmission electron microscopy; Trichocysts; Ultrastructure; Vacuoles; 形态特征; 形态过程; 物质循环; 纤毛虫; 胞质成熟; 超微结构; 透射电子显微镜; 酶细胞化学; electron microscopy; extrusome; enzyme-cytochemistry
• ISSN: 0254-4059; 2096-5508; 1993-5005; 2523-3521
• DOI: 10.1007/s00343-011-9943-7

The ultrastructure of extrusomes of the hypotrichous ciliate Pseudourostyla nova was observed in scanning and transmission electron microscopy and enzyme-cytochemistry. The results show that the distribution, morphological characteristics, morphogenesis process, and extrusive process of the extrusomes in P. nova are different from the trichocysts in Paramecium, suggesting that the extrusomes of P. nova can respond to environmental stimuli, play an important role in the defense of this species, and cannot be regarded as ＂trichocysts＂. The results also suggest that the extrusomes might be originated from the Golgi apparatus and mature in the cytoplasm; after the extrusion of mature extrusomes, the residual substance might be reabsorbed and reused by the ciliate cell via food vacuoles, and take part in material recycling of the cell.