Seasonal patterns of cell-to-cell communication in Chara corallina Klein ex Willd. II. Cell-to-cell communication during the development of antheridia

Cell-to-cell communication has been studied in lateral branches and developing antheridia of male Chara corallina plants. The moving cytoplasm is specialized to include essentially separate ascending and descending cytoplasmic streams within the inter-nodes. The neutral line which demarcates the ascending from the descending stream is established by the divisions of the nodal initial, which gives rise to both the node and internode. The ascending stream is located beneath the first-formed node-cells and the descending stream beneath the last-formed cells. The cells destined to develop into antheridia were always located on the same side as the descending internodal stream, and thus, were derived from the cells last formed during divisions of the nodal initial. Three stages of anther idial development have been defined: (1) young antheridia from the initial division of a node-cell to the formation of an octant structure; (2) maturing antheridia where differentiation into shield, manubria and capitular cells has occurred, including antheridia where an internal cavity has formed but contains filaments of less than 32 cells; and (3) mature antheridia where filaments contain more than 32 cells and spermatid production commences. Internodal cells of branches bearing young antheridia had similar characteristics to spring branches, including high plasmalemma potential differences (-217·7±31·5mV, K⁺]_o 0·5 mol m^?3; pH 7·6) and extensive cell-to-cell communication (frequency of intercellular transport of 6 carboxyfluorescein 86%). The small probe 6 carboxy fluorescein moved into the entire young antheridium in 100% of injections. The molecular exclusion limit for internodes and the nodal complex lay between 874 and 1678Da whereas the exclusion limit for the young antheridium was smaller (between 750 and 874Da). Internodal cells of branches bearing maturing antheridia had similarly high PDs (–221·7±40mV; K⁺]_o 0·5 mol m^?3; pH 7·6). Cell-to-cell communication between internodes bearing maturing antheridia was extensive (frequency of intercellular transport of 6 carboxyfluorescein 100%). The shield cells were isolated from the symplast of the thallus at this stage since they did not admit 6 carboxyfluorescein. Internodal cells of branches bearing only mature antheridia showed different characteristics. Intercellular communication between internodes was restricted to a level similar to that found in winter (frequency of intercellular transport of 6 carboxyfluorescein = 57%). The mature antheridium was entirely isolated from the symplast of the thallus. A period of extensive cell-to-cell communication and high PDs in internodal cells commences in vegetative lateral branches in spring, immediately before reproductive structures are initiated. These features persist throughout summer whilst reproductive structures develop, until the antheridial filaments contain 32 or more cells (mature stage), at which point spermatid production commences and the antheridium is isolated from the thallus. In autumn, following the stage of mature antheridia, no further antheridia are initiated. Internodes are subsequently vegetative throughout winter and their lateral branches are characterized by restricted cell-to-cell communication, low internodal PDs, and little obvious growth, all features consistent with winter dormancy.