title: Effect of different toxic compounds on ATP content and acid phosphatase activity in axenic cultures of Tetrahymena pyriformis.
abstract: The sensitivity of protozoa, and particularly ciliated protozoa, to environmental changes suggested a study on the physiological responses arising from exposure to toxic compounds. Tetrahymena pyriformis was used as a test organism in a set of miniaturized assays. The physiological response of this ciliate was assessed in terms of adenosine-5'-triphosphate content and acid phosphatase activity after exposure of the cultures of T. pyriformis to four toxicants: copper, zinc, Triton X-100, and cycloheximide. In the range of concentrations used, stimulation and inhibition of these two parameters were observed. The correlation between the two parameters is analyzed.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Engenharia Biológica, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolau
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lima
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000633:toxicity*; D003902:Detergents / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017830:Octoxynol / Q000633:toxicity*; D013768:Tetrahymena / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003902:Detergents; D003300:Copper; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D017830:Octoxynol; D003513:Cycloheximide; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D015032:Zinc