An immunofluorescence technique for staining ciliated protozoans: highlighting cytoplasmic microtubular arrays and stages of micronuclear meiosis.
Ciliated protozoans represent useful organisms for studying the processes involved in the induction and progression of meiosis. In this short report we describe a technique that has allowed us to examine different meiosis phases during the sexual reproduction of Blepharisma japonicum. In order to visualize the phases of meiosis, sexually reproducing pairs were stained by an enhanced technique of anti-tubuline indirect immunofluorescence. Meiotic micronuclei, particularly those showing metaphase spindles, were clearly highlighted. The technique also heavily decorates the main microtubular cytoplasmic arrays in Blepharisma.
Dipartimento Etologia, Ecologia, Evoluzione, Via Volta N6, I-56126 Pisa, Italy. sant@discat.unipi.it
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Santangelo
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Bruno
D000818:Animals; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008540:Meiosis; D048631:Micronucleus, Germline / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013194:Staining and Labeling