The System of Contractile Vacuoles in the Green Alga Mesostigma viride (Streptophyta)

The contractile vacuole (CV) is an osmoregulatory organelle which is found in many protists. We have investigated the structure and function of the CV in the green alga Mesostigma viride by light (video) and serial section electron microscopy. Mesostigma is the only known flagellate streptophyte (charophycean green algae and land plants) and therefore of great importance for our understanding of the evolution of streptophytes. The entire CV system of Mesostigma has been reconstructed 3-dimensionally for three cells. Based on light microscopy cells contain an average of 8 CVs. The maximal diameter of a CV in Mesostigma was 1.5 μm and the expulsion interval 24.1 s in 10 mosM medium. Video microscopy revealed the system of CVs to be very dynamic with individual CVs connecting temporarily or fusing completely with each other. Electron microscopy confirmed these observations and showed coated vesicles to be predominantly associated with large CVs. No expulsion pore was observed by electron microscopy. Instead we encountered close contact zones of approximately 150 nm diameter, which we propose to be the site of water expulsion. A model for the function of CVs in Mesostigma is presented.