INJURY IN RELATION TO CELL ORGANIZATION

When a part of a Nitella cell, A, is covered with water and the rest of the cell, B, is in contact with a toxic solution there is an escape of solutes at B. This is followed by the escape of solutes at A which causes the death of A. Water enters at A, flows along inside the cell, and escapes at B carrying solutes with it. When this is prevented by covering A with mineral oil the escape of solutes at A is delayed and the life of A is correspondingly prolonged. It is remarkable that this occurs in spite of the fact that the hydrostatic pressure inside the cell (turgor) drops from 6.4 atmospheres to zero. It would seem that A might not be affected by the death of B if the escape of solutes could be prevented.