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Sublethal Cytotoxic Effects of Mercuric Chloride on the Ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis *
Author(s) -
TINGLE LESLIE E.,
PAVLAT WILLIAM A.,
CAMERON IVAN L.
Publication year - 1973
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.1550-7408.1973.tb00882.x
Subject(s) - tetrahymena pyriformis , toxicant , ciliate , chemistry , motility , toxicity , tetrahymena , biology , cytotoxic t cell , toxicology , biochemistry , in vitro , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , organic chemistry
SYNOPSIS. The behavior and ultrastructure of Tetrahymena pyriformis was assessed after exposure to dosages of 8 and 16% of the lethal concentration of HgCl 2 (TLm 96 hr). The lower dosage caused no abnormal changes in cell motility, activity of the water explusion vesicles, or cell shape; the higher dosage caused deleterious changes in these parameters. The higher sublethal HgCl 2 concentration (0.50 mg/liter) elicited damage of several cell structures. This damage persisted and accumulated with time up to 24 hr. At the lower HgCl 2 dosage (0.25 mg liter) there were extensive changes after 1‐hr exposure involving primarily mitochondria; however, all major changes were repaired after 24 hr of constant exposure to the HgCl 2 , indicating adaptation to the toxicant. Based solely on cytotoxic evidence an attempt is made to apply the findings defining what constitutes a “safe'’concentration of HgCl 2 in the cell's environment.