Functional state of spirostomes under exposure to various water samples

The following three water samples were selected for the tests:

1. Pipe-water sample taken out of Moscow City Western Administrative Circuit water supply system (Sample W);
2. The same water sample purified with use of water purification household system manufactured by ZEPTER, Series: EE-RO-6PF (Sample F);
3. 3. Water sample treated after its purification with use of “Aquator” appliance designed to produce specific effects upon structural state of the water (Sample T).

Effects produced by the water samples were evaluated basing on the functional states of spirostomes put into the afore-said water samples. Spirostomum ambiguum Ehrbg is a rather large infusorium species, whose in-culture length is up to 2-3 mm. Spirostomal forward movements are maintained by all cilia pulsating together, while lengthwise contractions are maintained by myonemes contained in the cytoplasm. Therefore, any change in the movement velocity, behavior patterns or, especially, survival powers can be indicative of the one-cell creatures’ functional state, any changes whereof are dependent on extent, to which environmental factors produce their effects upon the cell. Specific criteria of the functional state were developed and tested for the purpose in M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University by a group of researchers headed by Professor N.A. Tushmalova.

The experiment involved quantitative studies of infusorial behavior patterns by a method similar to “open field” method. The motive behavior criterion was motive activity index (MAI). MAI can be expressed in Relative Units equal to the number of crossings made through area covered by MBC-1 magnifying glass viewfinder per unit of time. In the experiments performed, the time of MAI observation was 5 minutes. Exposure time, after the effects were made, was 60 minutes. The study performed was as follows: adjustment to the test chamber environment (5 minutes), then identification of spontaneous motive activity level (5-10 minutes). For each of the points, 20 infusoria were used. Statistical data processing was performed under Student’s criterion.

Since the under-test parameter is labile enough (unfusorial behavior patterns can change as time goes by), the evaluation was performed concurrently and semi-quantitatively.

On the whole, experiments involving evaluation of one-cell organism functional state showed that spirostomal cytoplasm is prompt in its responses to any changes in the environment.

Description of the experiment. The spirostomes were put into a container with the under-test water. Measuring was made of the functional state of spirostomes exposed to the under-test water samples. Results obtained are shown in the below-stated table.

Changes in the functional state of the spirostomes, as dependent on effects produced by water samples

It should be noted that it is a reliable statement that, under exposure to water (Sample F), MAI changes take place at their greatest rates (17% reduction) as compared to the initial Sample W. On the contrary, Sample T – that of water filtered and treated with use of “Aquator” appliance – is the most similar in its rate (as shown in the used test) to the initial sample.