The spongiome of membranes that surround the CV are probably not preserved in their native state when collidine buffered fixative is used. However, suggestions of decorated tubules as well as smooth t...

A partially filled contractile vacuole is connected to two regions of spongiome tubules. The extra CV membrane is acquired from these spongiomes. Presumably some of these spongiome tubules are decorat...

The contractile vacuole pore is supported on its cytosolic side by a coil of microtubules and other microtubules extend from the pore to the CV membrane. The plasma membrane and CV membrane cover the ...

The 11 micrographs of the group are views of a serially-sectioned contracted Vorticella convallaria cell that show the main features of this cell. This figure shows 1 food vacuole; a segment of the ma...

This section is cut at a level where the macronucleus is folded so it appears to be in 2 parts and where the micronucleus is visible. Contractile vacuole, perioral kinetids, and the peristome is evide...

Contractile vacuole in the opisthe of a dividing cell. This is presumably the mature CV of the original “mother” cell. Spongiome tubules form large regions of additional membrane on two sides of t...

A high resolution view of a median longitudinal section through this collecting canal that may be artificially swollen at two sites where it is encircled by structural microtubules. Smooth spongiome ...

A high resolution micrograph of the collecting canal of the contractile vacuole surrounded by smooth spongiome remnants and decorated tubules of the CVC. Microtubules bordering the flattened collectin...

High resolution image of the collecting canal of the contractile vacuole complex. Normally the collecting canal is expanded when the CV is in systole. In this micrograph the collecting canal is empty ...

A high resolution view of the Contractile Vacuole Complex. The CV membrane has collapsed into regularly spaced tubules oriented perpendicular to the microtubular ribbon in this ruptured cell. Some tub...