[Intranuclear and cytoplasmic annulate lamellae in the polyploid giant cells of the trophoblast].

Intranuclear and cytoplasmic annulate lamellae in polyploid giant cells of the trophoblast have been studied in rat placenta on days 12--17 of development. The annulate lamellae are present in the cytoplasm within a limited time, being visible on day 12 only. These are arranged in bundles near the nucleus to be moving then to the cytoplasm. The end parts of annulate lamellae are broadened to make cisterns of rough endoplasmic reticulum. Unlike the cytoplasmic annulate lamellae, those found within the nucleus are seen in part of the nuclei investigated throughout the whole period examined to look as single structures (not gathered in bundles), they can be branching, separating closed spaces within the nucleus (making local swellings in the loci of branching; the latter having electron dense or transparent vesicles). Association with nuclear chromatin in some regions is a peculiar feature of the intranuclear annulate lamellae. This association is especially obvious at endoprophase in the cycle ofthe polytene nucleus during the somatic conjugation--chromonemes unite in a bundle and condense. Ultrastructural changes of the annulate lamellae is noted throughout the polytene nucleus cycle and during the cell differentiation. It is supposed that in the case of temporary labile chromosome polyteny in the nuclear cycle, which is characteristic of mammalian trophoblasts, annulate lamellae can well compare, in their function, with the synaptonemal complex--these prevent from too tight associations of homologues in the course of somatic conjugation of chromosomes.