[Selected biochemical indicators in the protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis].

Aiming at an improvement of the screening of toxic substances in biological materials and environment, the following biochemical indices were studied by means of the Tetrahymena pyriformis as a testing object: total protein, total lipids, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.27.), gamma-glutamyl transferase (E.C.2.3.2.2.), aspartate aminotransferase (E.C.2.6.1.1.), alanine aminotransferase (E.C.2.6.1.2.), acetyl cholinesterase (E.C.3.1.1.7.), butyryl cholinesterase (E.C.3.1.1.8.), alkaline phosphatase (E.C.3.1.3.1.), acid phosphatase (E.C.3.1.3.2.) and alpha-amylase (E.C.3.2.1.1.). The study was conducted in the period of the population growth in an experimental medium with the minimum content of nutrients within the 96 hours of cultivation. It has been derived from the results that most of the enzymes are at the top of their activity in the early logarithmic stage of growth, i. e. in the period immediately following the log stage of population growth when the cells are getting ready for intensive division and growth; another peak activity period is the logarithmic growth stage--alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase are an exception with the culmination of activity in the stationary stage of population growth.