[Heteromorphism of corynebacteria. II. Microcells].

The formation of microcells is one of the manifestations of the heteromorphism of Corynebacterium. It can occur in 6 ways, of these, 3 are possible during septation (chaotic septation of gigantic macroforms, irregular multiseptation of elongated organisms, and microcells appearing as inserts at the sites of the septum formation), and 3 in undividing cells (microcells at the edge segments of the protoplast, exogemmation, endogemmation). The analysis of the ultrastructure of microcells indicated the possibility of their independent existence for a certain period of time.