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The pH of gastric vacuoles

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Summary

  1. 1.

    Actinosphaerium Eichhornii may incorporate in its gastric vacuoles, ciliates (usually hypotrichs) rotifers and nematodes, which remain alive after incorporation.

  2. 2.

    The pH of the vacuolar fluid in a newly formed vacuole containing live food is, for a period of five or ten minutes, neutral or slightly acid, i.e. 6·6 to 7·0.

  3. 3.

    With the increase in hydrogen-ion concentration, the activity of live prey decreases, until it becomes motionless. The length of time elapsing before this occurs is variable. In the case of ciliates this occupies but a few minutes, while rotifers may live for several hours. It is possible, therefore, that the acid functions as a killing fluid within the vacuole.

  4. 4.

    The pH of all gastric vacuoles containing food in the process of active digestion is 4·3 ± 0·1.

  5. 5.

    Old vacuoles, containing indigestible residuum usually have a pH value of 5·4 to 5·6. More rarely these may register 6·8 to 7·0.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Washington Square College, USA

    Ruth B. Howland

  2. Cornell University Medical College, New York, USA

    Ruth B. Howland

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  1. Ruth B. Howland
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Howland, R.B. The pH of gastric vacuoles. Protoplasma 5, 127–134 (1928). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01604593

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01604593

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