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Lightmicroscopic Observations on Structure and Division of Histomonas meleagridis (Smith) *
Author(s) -
HONIGBERG B. M.,
BENNETT CAROLYN J.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1971.tb03398.x
Subject(s) - biology , flagellum , anatomy , primordium , division (mathematics) , cell division , zoology , paleontology , genetics , arithmetic , mathematics , gene , bacteria , cell
SYNOPSIS. Culture forms and lumen‐dwelling phases of the ameboflagellate Histomonas meleagridis , which are structurally indistinguishable from each other, have a single flagellum. Their well‐developed pelta is connected to the anterior segment of the broad, spatulate axostylar capitulum, applied to the left‐ventral surface of the nearly spheroid or somewhat ellipsoid or ovoid nucleus. The capitulum narrows into a very slender axostylar trunk that tapers to a fine point and does not project beyond the body surface. The parabasal apparatus consists of a V‐shaped parabasal body and a large parabasal filament. A new flagellum appears early during division and soon approaches its full length. The 2 flagella persist thruout division and each becomes the locomotory organelle of a daughter histomonad. The arms of the parental parabasal body appear to separate, each going to 1 of the daughter mastigont systems; some parabasal material is lost early in division. The 2nd arm is regenerated in each daughter parabasal body. The large parabasal filament seems not to be retained in the parental mastigont system, and new filaments are seen at both poles before 2 daughter nuclei are formed. The old axostyle degenerates from the anterior toward the posterior end; at the same time lamellar primordia of the daughter pelta‐axostyle complexes appear in the separating mastigont systems that are connected by an extranuclear spindle during the entire division process. The structure and taxonomic status of H. meleagridis are discussed in the light of this and previous studies.