THE EFFECT OF URETHANE ON THE CONSUMPTION OF OXYGEN AND THE RATE OF CELL DIVISION IN THE CILIATE TETRAHYMENA GELEII

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Abstract
The inhibition of O2 consumption produced by a series of concs. of ethyl carbamate has been measured in the protozoan T. geleii. The relation found between the narcotic conc. and its effect on respiration leads to the conclusion that urethane has 2 distinct modes of action in this cell. The respiratory data can be accurately predicted by assuming that the inhibitor acts on 2 independent parallel respiratory systems. Complete suppression of cell division in this organism is brought about by approx. 0.1 [image] urethane. Urethane concs. up to 0.1 M affect primarily only one of the 2 postulated respiratory systems. The mechanism of the narcosis of cell division in this organism by urethane thus appears to be inhibition of this "activity" system.