[Study of streptococcal L forms in the scanning electron microscope. II. Dynamics of the development of structural elements of L colonies at different stages of growth].

The method of scanning electron microscopy showed that the L-colonies of streptococcus were formed by the spherical structures 0.1--1.5 micronm in diameter, elements of polygonal shape (large bodies) 10--30 micronm in size, filamentous structures 01--7 micronm in diameter and structureless matrix. A regular replacement of one form by another was observed in the process of the L-colonies development. Thus, the spherical elements appeared in the lag-phase, and polygonal elements were found mostly at the initial stages of the L-colonies formation; as to the filamentous structures -- they were present at all the developmental stages, but their diameter increased, and their structure and number changed at different growth phases. The spherical elements of the L-colonies formed evenly both on the structureless depth matrix of the colonies, on the filamentous structures in the form of buds on the "large bodies", and the disintegration of the latter. The role of the filamentous structures in the development of the L-colonies is discussed.