Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Calcium channels; Contractile vacuole; Tetrahymena;
Abstract
The contractile vacuole (CV) of Tetrahymena removes fluids from the cell and maintains cellular integrity. Although many studies have been done, it is not fully understood what controls its function. Therefore, this study sought to further elucidate an understanding of what controls the activity of the CV. The effect of calcium on CV activity was studied. Twenty-four hour cultures of Tetrahymena were centrifuged, washed in an experimental solution and isolated. Single cells were measured and analyzed using computer video imaging and analysis programs. Compared to control cells, cells treated with calcium have statistically significant differences (P < 0.00001) in the following parameters: smaller overall cell volume, CV volume, and the interval between contractions. Calcium has an effect on CV activity. Increases in calcium result in decreases in cell volume and CV volume. Cadmium treated cells differed (P < 0.00001) from control cells in cell volume, CV volume, kinetics (slope) of contraction, and the interval between contractions. Increases in cadmium, relative to calcium, result in increased cell and CV volumes. Taken together, these results indicate that the control of CV activity in Tetrahymena is through stretch-activated ion selective calcium channels.
Year of Submission
1997
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of Biology
First Advisor
Barton L. Bergquist
Second Advisor
Carl L. Thurman
Third Advisor
Darrell J. Wiens
Date Original
1997
Object Description
1 PDF file (76 leaves)
Copyright
©1997 Robert William Bird
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Bird, Robert William, "Role of Calcium and Other Cations on Contractile Vacuole Activity of Tetrahymena thermophila" (1997). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2096.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2096
Comments
If you are the rightful copyright holder of this thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.