Vorticella. Concentrating on stalk and myoneme.

[Charles Krebs]

In the upper image you can see the area where the stalk and the contractile myoneme connect to the cell.

In the lower image you can see what occurs when the cell reproduces by fission. (The right panel of this picture shows a closer view of the section boxed in the overview to the left). As can be seen, only one keeps the existing myoneme, and the other cell will eventually break away and then grow its own stalk and myoneme.

[piotr]

Spectacular pictures!!! I think that the myoneme details can be used to identify the species.

[bernhardinho]

I think that the myoneme details can be used to identify the species.

Hi Piotr

where did you read this? That's completely new to me!


Bernhard

[Ken Ramos]

Glad that you posted this Charlie. I have always wanted a good look at how the myoneme (spasmonyme, whatever) interacted or interlaced with the cytoplasm within the lorica. It would be interesting to find if there were some sort of network there that may connect somehow with the nucleus but then again maybe not, I don't know but anyway these are some great shots and they show me something that I have always wondered about. Thanks!

[piotr]

Hi Bernhard,

OK, I wasn't precise - it is not structure of the myoneme, but the entire stalk. In "Protozoology" by R.R.Kudo, 5th edition (1971) there is a figure of various species of Vorticella (page 1017, fig 368). The figure displays differences visible in a structure of the stalk. The differences include a presence and a size of "refractile granules" in the stalk, along the myoneme. For example, V. picta has granules present in the stalk, and V. microstoma seems to lack them. I just remembered that figure after seeing excellent pictures by Charlie...

Best,
Piotr

[bernhardinho]

Hi Piotr

Oh, I see!! I've got that book, but I must have missed a lesson there

I'll gonna repeat it right away. Thank you very much.


Bernhard

[Jean-marc]

Beautiful Charles !!