Experimental Studies of Abnormal Nuclear and Cell Divisions

IV. Observation with living cells of the effects of high and low temperatures

Abstract

1) Under the influence of high temperatures (32.5°C43.5°C in the case of leaf epidermis and 47°C53.5°C in the case of petal cells), the enlargement of vacuoles in the cytoplasm and the increase in refractivity of chromosomes and the decrease in volume of the spindle are brought about and di-diploid nuclei and bi-nucleate cells are formed after re-exposure to the room temperature, just in the same manner as in the case of neutral salts, ammonia and etc.
2) Under the influence of low temperatures (about -4°C-6°C), the mitosis ceases to proceed, and the chromosomes increase in refractivity. After re-exposure to the room temperature, most of the mitoses continue to proceed on normally, and only in a few cases di-diploid nucleus is formedIn the case where di-diploid nuclei are formed, the dehydration phenomena taking place in association with the vacuole enlargement in the cytoplasm are recognizable.
3) In some cases the asymmetrical division, the uni-polar division and a pseudo-tripolar division are observed.