Table 10

 

Effect of hormonal imprinting on the growth rate of Tetrahymena.

 

(Csaba, G., Németh, G., Enhancement of sensitivity of Tetrahymena to a second hormonal influence by hormone pretreatment, Acta Biol. Med. Germ. 39, 1027-1030, 1980)

 

Signal

24h

72h

148h

Control

1

1

1

Diiodotyrosine (T2)

1.48

1.18

1.27

T2 + T2

2.05

1.80

2.22

Serotonin (5HT)

1.35

1.15

1.26

5HT + 5HT

1.47

1.75

1.74

 

 

Conclusions:

 

  1. T2 and 5HT enhance the growth of Tetrahymena.
  2. The effect of second treatment was much stronger, even after one week (more than 60 generations).
  3. This means that hormonal imprinting sensitized (specified or increased in number?) the binding sites (receptors), and receptor memory has been developed which has been transmitted to the progeny generations.