Effect of calcium on RNA content in meristematic cells of pea (Pisum sativum L.) roots treated with toxic metals.
RNA content in nucleolus, nucleus and cytoplasm in meristematic cells of pea roots growing for 144 h in the presence of calcium and/or toxic metals (Cd2+, Cr3+, Pb2+) was examined using cytophotometric procedures, after staining with gallocyanine. The effect of treatment with tested metals was twofold: on the one hand, it considerably reduced RNA content in the nucleolus, on the other it enhanced RNA level in the nucleus and most visibly in the cytoplasm, resulting in the increase in total amount of RNA in cells of pea roots. The presence of calcium in metal solutions in different ways affected RNA content in meristematic cells of pea. In roots treated with cadmium, the addition of calcium ions diminished the toxic effect of that metal, as demonstrated by an increase in RNA content in the nucleolus, although reduction of RNA amount in the nucleus, cytoplasm and in whole cell was observed. A clearly stimulative effect of calcium was noted in material grown in the presence of chromium or lead, where a high increase in RNA content in nucleolus, nucleus and cytoplasm took place.
Lbik-Nowak
A
A
Department of Plant Cytology and Cytochemistry, University of Lódź, Poland.
Gabara
B
B
D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002857:Chromium / Q000633:toxicity; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity; D018519:Meristem / Q000378:metabolism*; D008670:Metals / Q000633:toxicity*; D018532:Pisum sativum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism*
D008670:Metals; D002104:Cadmium; D002857:Chromium; D007854:Lead; D012313:RNA; D002118:Calcium