Microspectrophotometric study and kinetics of autogamy during encystment of Tetrahymena rostrata.

The process of autogamy that accompanies encystment in Tetrahymena rostrata was divided into five stages; A: first meiotic division, B: second meiotic division. C: post-meiotic division and fusion of the pronuclei, D: first and second synkaryon's mitosis and E: macronuclear-polyploidization. In this communication the kinetics of these phases is reported. The degeneration of the old-macronucleus begins about the second meiotic division (stage-B), and the development of the new-macronucleus progressively rises during about 15h.