[Effects of altered gravity on the culture of unicellular eucaryotic organisms, Bursaria truncatella (Ciliophora)].

The paper reports the results of experiments with centrifugation and clinostating. Growth rate, cellular division and several morphofunctional characteristics of unicellular organisms of infusoria Bursaria truncatella in culture were studied under normal (1 g), elevated (hypergravity at 2 and 5 g), and compensated gravity. The data point to certain changes in the functional activity and morphology of cells consequent to long-time cultivation under these conditions. The observed regularities in the dynamics of B.truncatella growth and shifts in its physiology and morphology due to hypergravity or compensated gravity support our earlier proposed working hypothesis about the dominance of functional activity over morphological properties in sensitivity of unicellular organisms to perception and realization of the gravitational stimulus.