Blepharisma culture

ralfwagner · Post by **ralfwagner** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:13 pm

Hello,

on Monday this week Mr. Weber, one of the German grandfathers in microscopy, gave me a sample of his Blepharisma culture. The culltivating of Blepharisma seems to be easy: put 2 or 3 corns of rice in a little bit of water ("Volvic" is said to give best results), add some Blepharismas and keep the whole under dark or nearly dark conditions, ready. My critters are alive now for 4 days, Mr. Weber's since 4 years. We will see, how far my culture can go.

Here is a first pic of that red colored ciliate Blepharisma:

Enjoy!

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:08 am

Ralf,

This is a lovely picture! Perhaps a silly question -- does anybody know what is the function of the red color? It seems like the creature must spend a lot of resources making it, there must be some function?

--Rik

bernhardinho · Post by **bernhardinho** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:23 am

Hi Rik

Blepharisma cells contain thousands of so-called pigmentocysts. These are spherical vesicles filled with toxic blepharismin, a hypericin derivative. When the cells are attacked by a predator such as Dileptus, the vesicles are discharged and Dileptus retreats. Purified blepharismin is highly toxic to diverse ciliates, but not to Blepharisma itself.

All pretty amazing, isn't ?

Bernhard

ralfwagner · Post by **ralfwagner** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:32 am

Hello,

Bernhard just said it all, thanks. I only can add, that Blepharisma even tends to cannibalism if it is hungry

. Indeed a very interesting critter

.

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:44 pm

Wow! Thanks for the fascinating information!

--Rik

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 6:06 pm

Ralf,
You've really captured the various features well in a single image. And that is one of the most colorful ones I've seen. The ones I usually see tend to be just a light pink color.