Cortical morphogenesis during the cell division cycle inEuplotes: An integrated study using light optical, scanning electron and transnlission electron microscopy

Abstract

Hypotrichs are among the most complex ciliates in terms of morphology and development. To study the fine structure of cortical morphogenesis associated with cell division in Euplotes eurystomus, three different methods of observation were employed: light microscopy of protargol-stained specimens, scanning electron microscopy of cells prepared by critical point drying, and transmission electron microscopy of sectioned material. Observations on the stages of morphogenesis give much new information about cortical development, particularly about proliferation and aggregation of kinetosomes (basal bodies), ciliary outgrowth, the topography of morphogenesis, cirrus resorption, and growth of the pellicle. During the formation of new cirrus the process of kinetosome proliferation is atypical, i.e., groups of prokinetosomes are seen oriented at random and, in some cases, prokinetosomes apparently are formed at a distance from nearby young kinetosomes. That the new cirri develop in surface grooves, the grooves elongate into “tracks,” and (in some cases) grooves are partitioned into separate tracks suggests that the grooves play a role in the orderly migration of the new cirri on the cell surface. Conspicuous morphogcnctic changes in the cell surface involve local growth of the pellicle. The process of pellicle growth apparently involves two basic steps: (a) growth of the outer cell membrane to form “bare regions,” and (b) formation of alveoli in the bare regions. Alveolar sheets are formed by fusion of alveolus precursor particles. Cirrus resorption is sequential over several stages of development, and old cirri are resorbed as the new cirri impinge on them. As the old cirri regress, both in situ resorption and retraction of axonemes into the cytoplasm occur.