title: Alveolar system of Paramecium. I. Trapping polycationic dye as a result of membrane impairment.
abstract: The function of Paramecium alveolar system underlying the cell membrane has been studied. Permeability and structure of cell membrane, alveolar membranes and alveoli following alpha-amylase, beta-amylase, phospholipase C and hyaluronidase treatment has been examined. It is demonstrated that droplets of polycationic dye, ruthenium red, have been trapped within the alveoli whereas the dye was also bound by the outer and inner alveolar membrane. This suggest the presence of anionic sites capable to bind cationic compounds within the alveoli. It may be concluded that the alveolar system in Paramecium is functioning as a barrier protecting the cell against the chemicals added from the outside when the cell membrane separating the cytoplasm from the medium is impaired.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010247:Paramecium / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010539:Permeability; D012430:Ruthenium Red; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000494:pharmacology; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012430:Ruthenium Red; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase