Lead uptake, localization and changes in cell ultrastructure of Funaria hygrometrica protonemata

Abstract

The main sites of lead entering the protonemata were spores with broken cell walls and apical cells of protonemata. The lead ions could enter the symplast probably by endocytosis but we can not exclude diffusion as the way of entering. Lead deposits inside a protoplast were observed after 2 h of lead application. After 12 h, Pb deposits were commonly present in all cell structures surrounded by a membrane. Some disturbances in ultrastructure of organelles were found after 8 h. The most frequent were: change of endoplasmatic reticulum configuration from linear to concentric one in many cases surrounding other organelles (e.g. mitochondria) and large and numerous plastoglobuli in chloroplasts. Longer treatment of protonemata with lead (24 h or 48 h) caused degeneration of organelles and even death of the cell.