Abstract

It has been assumed that the results of calorimetric measurements of heat emissions from the bioindicator cells in extracts taken from leathers (Part I) are to be confirmed by microscopic studies and measurements of oxygen concentrations related to cellular respiration of Tetrahymena pyriformis. It has been observed that the exposure of the bioindicator in the calorimeter to a harmful extract caused behavioural, morphological and cytophysiological changes in cells. A reduced proliferation rate was also found. The kinetics of the oxygen concentration changes in samples containing the bioindicator and an extract was different from that of samples containing the bioindicator and water. Statistically significant differences between the average oxygen concentration in the systems were compared, thus indicating anomalies in respiratory processes. These results confirm that the changes in heat power values recorded in calorimetric measurements resulted from an effect of extracts on a living organism are related to disturbances in vital functions in cells.