title: Studies on the mechanism of cell elongation in Blepharisma japonicum I. A physiological mechanism how light stimulation evokes cell elongation.
abstract: In a heterotrichous ciliate, Blepharisma japonicum, longitudinal elongation of the cell body is induced by light stimulation (1000 to 3000 lux). This light-induced response was inhibited under the existence of cyclic mononucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) antagonists such as papaverine (10(-4)M), theophylline (10(-3) M), dibutyril-cAMP (10(-4)M), 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (10(-4) M) and dibutyril-cGMP (10(-4) M). Microinjection of cyclic mononucleotides, especially cGMP, inhibited cell elongation. These observations suggest that the cell elongation was mediated by intracellular cyclic mononucleotide. K(+) specific ionophore valinomycin (10(-8)-10(-7) M) enhanced light-induced cell elongation. This effect of valinomycin became more remarkable when valinomycin coexisted with PDE antagonists, while it was diminished under high K+ conditions. Moreover, the K(+) channel blockers tetraethylammonium (TEA) and CsCl inhibited cell elongation. These observations suggest that the cell elongation is also mediated by K(+) hyperpolarization, and that this electrical change is probably elicited after the intracellular concentration of cyclic mononucleotide decreased.
authors.affiliation: Laboratories of Cell Biology, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shigenaka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taneda