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An Electron‐Microscope Study of the Cytology of the Protozoan Peranema trichophorum *
Author(s) -
ROTH L. E.
Publication year - 1959
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1959.tb03935.x
Subject(s) - flagellum , cilium , electron microscope , anatomy , fibril , biology , basal body , biophysics , flagellate , organelle , vesicle , microtubule , membrane , microbiology and biotechnology , optics , biochemistry , physics , botany , gene , genetics
SYNOPSIS. The flagellate, Peranema trichophorum , has been studied in the electron microscope by thin‐sectioning techniques. The flagella have the fibrillar pattern typical of cilia and flagella, but accessory structures including tapered, intraflagellar rods, striated, layered material on the outside of the membrane, and mastigonemes are present. In the near basal region of the flagellum, there is a swelling of the shaft which is correlated with the absence of the two central flagellar fibrils. The basal portion of the intraflagellar material is structurally and locationally similar to the basal parts of the flagellar fibril bundle; this similarity suggests that the two structures originated from similar precursors and that two kinetosomes comprise the light microscopist's blepharoplast in this organism. The ridged pellicle is composed of 3 membranes, only two of which follow the contour of the ridges. Several filaments 21 mμ in diameter are localized under the low point of each ridge, and a single, larger fibril which has a periodic structure is often located beneath the high point of each ridge. The cytostome and structures associated with it are described and discussed in relation to food taking. The pharyngeal rods are cross‐connected and each is composed of numerous tubular elements surrounded by a denser, homogeneous layer. A system of membranes is attached to the rods and extends anteriorly. The nucleus contains two large nucleoli, numerous rod‐shaped, membrane‐limited bodies which appear similar in structure to bacteria, and a smaller granular component. Other organelles are briefly described including mitochondria, Golgi bodies, vacuoles, and endoplasmic reticulum.