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Fine Structure of the Silverline and Fibrillar Systems of Three Tetrahymenid Ciliates *
Author(s) -
PITELKA DOROTHY R.
Publication year - 1961
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.1550-7408.1961.tb01186.x
Subject(s) - fibril , anatomy , transverse plane , ultrastructure , materials science , biophysics , biology
Application of fragmentation and thin‐sectioning techniques to Tetrakymena pyriformis, Colpidium compiles and Glaucoma chattoni has permitted an analysis of the ultra‐structure of their silverline and fibrillar systems. The classical silverline system consists of a mosaic of flat, membrane‐bound blisters whose rims represent the sites of selective silver deposition. Cilia and protrichocysts emerge between adjacent blisters. I The pellicle consists of the membranes outlining the blisters, overlain by a continuous outer membrane that covers the whole cell and cilia. Fibrillar structures, which are not argentophilic, include: (1) tapering, striated kinetodesmal fibers arising singly from the kinetosomes, passing to the right and anteriad, and overlapping to form a loose bundle accompanying each kinety; (2) a longitudinal fibril band immediately beneath the pellicle at the right of each kinety, consisting of overlapping individual fibrils; (3) a transverse band of fibrils arising at the left side of each kinetosome and passing to the left under the pellicle; and (4) a set of postciliary fibrils arising at the right posterior edge of each kinetosome and passing posteriad under the pellicle. The fibrils of sets (2), (3), and (4) all are about 20 Mμ in diameter and appear tubular in cross‐section; they are very unlike the heavier, solid kinetodesmal fibers. None of the fibril sets directly interconnect, although transverse and postciliary fibrils end in the vicinity of the longitudinal fibril band.