A localized region of basal body proliferation in growing cells of Dileptus visscheri (ciliata, gymnostomate).

Abstract

In the ciliate Dileptus organisms are completely organized at the time of excystation. They grow intensively, increasing in volume several times, before they reach the trophic cell size. The growth includes both the somatic part of the body as well as the oral parts, consisting of the cytostomal field and the ventral band of the proboscis. From the time of excystation, during the growth of the cell, the oral apparatus is able to capture and ingest food. Growth of an oral apparatus while functioning has not previously been reported in cilates. The proliferation of new oral kinetosomes in the growing oral apparatus occurs only in the cytostomal field. There is no proliferation of ciliature in the oral kineties of the growing proboscis. In those regions of the somatic kineties bordering the cytostomal field an extensive proliferation of somatic ciliature takes place. The zone of proliferation common to the oral and somatic ciliature supplies new kinetosomes for the elongating proboscis, the growing oral apparatus and the growth of the rest of the body. The mode of proliferation of the oral kinetosomes differs from that of the somatic kinetosomes. The oral kinetosomes form randomly in large numbers, appearing similar to an anarchic field such as is found in other ciliates. The somatic kinetosomes always arise singly and in a defined position in relation to the mature kinetosome. The proliferation of basal bodies in a defined area in Dileptus suggests the existence of a growth zone localized around the cytostomal field.