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Journal of Experimental Biology 51,319-324 (1969)
Published by Company of Biologists 1969

Effects of High Hydrostatic Pressures on the Activity and Behaviour of the Ciliate Spirostomum

J. A. KITCHING ¹

¹ School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich

1. Spirostomum ambiguum fails to make the avoiding reaction at pressures of 4000 p.s.i. and over. The critical pressure is between 2000 and 4000 p.s.i.

2. Light or moderate mechanical stimulation with a hair no longer produced reversal or body contraction at pressures over 4000 p.s.i.

3. Blows severe enough to kink the body surface, or sudden exposure to NaCl in solution, elicited prolonged reversal at 6000 and 7000 p.s.i.

4. In a direct current the cilia on the cathodal side reversed with a threshold voltage either the same or not more than twice as great as that required without application of pressure.

5. It is suggested that at pressures of 4000 p.s.i. and over the cilia at the anterior end of the organism fail to receive and translate the stimulus. This failure could be due either to the reduced activity of the cilia or perhaps to an impairment of mechanical properties of the ectoplasm.