EFFECT OF COMPOUNDS AFFECTING ADRENERGIC MECHANISM ON CELL GROWTH AND DIVISION OF TETRAHYMENA PYRIFORMIS W

Janakidevi et al. (1) showed that the ciliated protozoan, Tetrahymena pyriformis, could biosynthesize both of adrenaline and noradrenaline, while the flagellated protozoan, Crithidia fasciculata, biosynthesized only adrenaline. Accordingly, Blum et al. (2) studied the effect of reserpine on the protozoan and found that it inhibited growth and decreased the catecholamine content. Furthermore, Blum (3) investigated the effects of drugs which interacted with the action of catecholamine in mammals, on the glycogen content and growth of Tetrahymena, and suggested a relationship between glycogen synthesis and the control system for adrenergic metabolism in Tetrahymena. Later, serotonin was also discovered in both Crithidia and Tetrahymena by Janakidevi et al. (4). Furthermore, Blum et al. (5) suggested that clofibrate, a hypolipidemic agent, inhibited glyconeogenesis or activated glycogenolysis in Tetrahymena. And recently, Blum (6) reported that adrenergic control system of Tetrahymena influenced a peroxisomal enzyme which acted the first step of glyconeogenesis from acetyl-CoA. In an earlier publication from our laboratory (7), we recognized that the growth of Tetrahymena was promoted by dibenamine or ergotamine. The present paper is on the effect of the compounds used in previous experiments, on growth during 72 hours, and on the cell growth and division in one life cycle of the protozoan. © 1969, The Japanese Pharmacological Society. All rights reserved.