Ultrastructural localization of cholinesterase in the pellice of Tetrahymena pyriformis (W)

Abstract Ultrastructural cytochemistry and electron microscope autoradiography were employed in an attempt to localize cholinesterase in the pellicle of Tetrahymena pyriformis (W). Our findings suggest that cholinesterase, possibly acetylcholinesterase, is present in the ciliary shafts and subpellicular loci. These results are discussed in terms of a possible mechanism by which control might be exerted over ciliary metachrony, involving non-specific cholinesterase(s) in complex with ciliary ATPase.