Morphological Studies on the Cell of Vibrio cholerae : I. Light Microscopy and Electron Microscopy on the Whole Cells

Nineteen strains of Vibrio cholerae, including classical, El Tor and non 0-1, have been studied under light microscopy and electron microscopy in details. Some morphological observations on the whole cells were obtained and discussed as follows : 1. The cell form of V. cholerae in this study was the same to the morphological descriptions of Bergey's Manual (the 7th edition 1957) and other authors, and the current classification of V. cholerae was recognized to be adequate morphologically. 2. The strains showed pleomorphism of cell bodies with following three distinct patterns. a) General variations of the cell bodies in shape and size : long or short, thick or thin and curved or straight. b) Pleomorphism with the cell growth and division : variations of dividing cells (S-form, V-form and U-form) and undivided chains (spiral or straight and long or short). c) Pleomorphism with the regressive status, such as autolysis and destroying : spheroid body (SB), cell with brain surface pattern (BSP), ghost cell and irregular forms. 3. Morphological discussion on the spheroid body was done from the viewpoint of literatures. The SB is considered not to be a spheroplast, but belongs to apre-spheroplast from its morphological features. Therefore, it will be suitable to be called as the ”spherical body”. 4. The mechanism of BSP formation from the rigid layer in the cell wall was discussed from a viewpoint of autolysis. BSP is considered to be an artifact and a wrinkle-image of the rigid layer provided after autolysis.