Resistibility of Milnesium tardigradum against the ultrahigh pressure in criptobiotic condition

Criptobiosis is a feature of Minesium tardigradum (Phylum Tardigrata). When this animal is exposed to environmental conditions that are not good for their activity, they are transferred to a special shape called 'tun'. We have investigated the resistibility of the tun against super high pressure. Twenty specimens of M. tardigradum were transferred to tun in dry conditions, and were kept in desiccator for a week. Tuns were placed in 7.5 GPa for 20 min, 3 hrs, 6 hrs, 12 hrs, and 24 hrs, respectively. While almost of tuns exposed up to 6 hrs recovered, but all of the no specimens exposed for 24 hrs did recover. Twenty-five percent of the specimens exposed to 12 hrs were alive, but they couldn't walk and were died within a week. We supposed that resistibility of M. tardigradum should be further enhanced if their tun is formed in complete vacuum and low temperature.
資料番号: AA0063349115