ABSTRACT
Recurring extensions and flexions of the food-gathering tentacle of Noctiluca miliaris occur spontaneously. Identical movements can be evoked by appropriate electrical stimulation.
Spontaneous recurring potential wave forms (TRPs) were recorded from the vacuole of the luminescent form of Noctiluca during movements of the tentacle. The basic TRP wave form consists of a characteristic negative-going spike which arises at −20 to −30 mV. from the slowly redeveloping negativity of a pre-spike depolarization, and is followed by a quasi-stable post-spike d.c. level of relative vacuolar negativity (−45 to −60 mV.).
The TRP complex, similar in shape to that which occurs spontaneously, follows an intracellularly applied current pulse of either polarity if the vacuolar potential is at the post-spike level. The duration of the evoked pre-spike wave is related to the current intensity and duration. During the pre-spike state outward current is ineffective, although a TR spike occurs in response to inward current.
The TRP is distinct in its behaviour and wave form from the flash-triggering potential, which can be evoked in the same cell, even though both exhibit all-or-none spikes.
Simultaneous recordings of intracellular potentials and movements of the tentacle showed a consistent temporal relationship between potential changes and subsequent movement. Extension of the tentacle begins 1–2 sec. after the spike and flexion begins within i sec. after beginning of the pre-spike wave.
Tentacle movement ceased in Ca-free sea water even though the cyclic potential changes continued normally.
Electron micrographs of the tentacle showed longitudinal aggregations of microtubules near the outer surface of the peripheral cytoplasm. It is proposed that contraction of these microtubules is the immediate cause of tentacle movements.
Chang (1960) determined average specific resistance and capacitance in the nonluminescent form of Noctiluca of 1 ·4 × 103 ohm-cm.* and 1 ·3 × 10−5 F./cm.2, respectively. Assuming the measurements were made on cells which had recovered from impalement, this indicates a difference of about 70-fold between the resistances of the luminescent and non-luminescent forms. This discrepancy is an order of magnitude greater than the resistance increase which occur in the luminescent form during recovery following impalement.
Hisada (1957, fig. 6) shows an action potential following the termination of an outward current pulse. Although potential and time scales are not indicated, both the appearance of the exponential rise and the shape of the action potential indicate that the latter was the flash-triggering action potential evoked in an unrecovered specimen by the break of a strong outward current. Comparisons may be made with Text-figs. 6 and 7 of the present paper, and fig. 1 of the accompanying paper (Sibaoka & Eckert, 1967).
