ISSN:
0362-2525
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
This peritrichous ciliate lives as an ectocommensal on the skin and gills of anuran tadpoles. Its relation to described species of Trichodina is doubtful. This study was made almost exclusively on fixed and stained material. Binary fission is similar to that in other ciliates. The horseshoe-shaped macronucleus condenses, then divides amitotically. The single small micronucleus forms a spindle containing between four and six chromosomes.Endomixis is of high incidence in the free-living Trichodinae. Encystment was not observed. At the onset of endomixis, the macronucleus disintegrates into fragments which persist throughout the process. The micronucleus undergoes three rapidly succeeding mitotic divisions to form eight nuclei. There is no evidence of chromosome reduction during these divisions. Seven of the nuclei differentiate into macronuclear anlagen; the eighth becomes the functional micronucleus. Successive cell divisions - before each of which the micronucleus divides - distribute macronuclei to daughter cells. Variations from the regular process of endomixis may arise, 1) by precocious division of endomictic parents; 2) by extra divisions of the micronucleus; 3) by less than the usual number (three) of divisions of the micronucleus; 4) by hypertrophy and early differentiation of the micronucleus into macronuclei; 5) by unusual segregation of nuclei to daughters, and, 6) from miscellaneous causes.The significance of these variations is discussed in connection with the possible origin of bimicronucleate and amicronucleate races.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1050460206
