Physiological Studies on the Cytopharyngeal Pouch, a Prey Receptacle in the Carnivorous Macrostomal Form of Tetrahymena vorax1

Various ions and treatments known to alter the availability of free Ca2+ were examined with respect to their effects on the cytopharyngeal pouch, a large prey receptacle found in the potentially carnivorous macrostomal form of Tetrahymena vorax. Addition of Ca2+, Ba2+, or Sr2+ induced the pouch to separate from the region of the cytostome, forming a large empty vacuole. Na+, alone, had no effect, but lowered the concentration of Ca2+ required to produce maximum vacuolar formation in populations of cells. Vacuolar induction was also initiated by the cation ionophore A23187 or by subjecting macrostomal cells to an electric current. In the presence of divalent cation chelators EDTA and EGTA, the cytopharyngeal pouch collapsed and was resorbed. Taken together, these results suggest that Ca2+ plays an important role during phagocytosis in this cell type.