ISSN:
1550-7408
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Aerobic and anaerobic ciliates swim towards the cathode when they are exposed to a constant DC field. Nyctotherus ovalis from the intestinal tract of cockroaches exhibits a different galvanotactic response: at low strength of the DC field the ciliates orient towards the anode whereas DC fields above 2–4 V/cm cause cathodic swimming. This reversal of the galvanotactic response is not due to backward swimming. Rather the ciliates turn around and orient to the cathode with their anterior pole. Exposure to various cations, chelators, and Ca2--channel inhibitors suggests that Ca2--channels similar to the “long lasting” Ca2--channels of vertebrates are involved in the voltage-dependent anodic galvanotaxis. Evidence is presented that host-dependent epigenetic factors can influence the voltage-threshold for the switch from anodic to cathodic swimming.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.1999.tb04623.x
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