| Abstract: | The ciliary activity of Ctenophore bolinopsis is inhibited by decreasing concentration of Mg2+ and increasing concentration of Ca2+ in the medium. The same changes in Mg2+ and Ca2+ concentration trigger muscle contractions and bioluminescence. Co2+ arrests the cilia beating in the rectangular position. An increase in Mg2+ concentration or decrease in Ca2+ concentration switch off the nervous inhibitory mechanisms of ciliary activity, suppress muscle contractions and bioluminescence. Ni2+ produces a similar effect, but the ciliary heating is only slightly accelerated, by the contrast to the effect of increased Mg2+ concentration. A Cl-free medium Mn2+ and tetrodotoxin in commonly used concentrations are of no effect on the systems studied. Experiments involving changes in K+ concentrations and administration of tetraethylammonium suggest that the resting potential in the examined cells may be due to K+ as the most permeant ion, and that K+-channels in the cell membrane may be voltage--controlled. The proposal about "biionic" (Ca2+/Mg2+) bioelectric control of a number of intracellular reactions is discussed. |
