Abstract
Electric membrane properties and motor behaviour of two Antarctic and two middle-latitude species of Euplotes were compared. Membrane potential fluctuations and whole-cell currents were measured using the whole cell clamp. The electrical properties of both of the Antarctic species between themselves and of both of the middle-latitude species are nearly identical. Furthermore, after warming up to 22°C, the Antarctic species grown at 4°C show the same pattern of spontaneous potential fluctuations, induced potential oscillations and membrane currents as the middle-latitude species grown and measured at 22°C. After cooling down to 4°C, the middle-latitude species grown at 22°C show the same electrical properties as the Antarctic species grown and measured at 4°C. The congruence of the temperature-dependent electrical properties in Euplotes species from completely different habitats is presumably based on a universal mechanism of temperature dependence of ionic conductances, indicating the close physiological relationship among the species.
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Received: 29 October 1997 / Accepted: 20 April 1998
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Stock, C., Krüppel, T., Lueken, W. et al. Congruence of electrical properties in two Antarctic and two middle-latitude marine species of Euplotes (Ciliata, Hypotrichida). Polar Biol 20, 127–133 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003000050286
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003000050286