[Cytophotometric analysis of trophozoites and cysts of Balantidium coli].

In trophozoites and cysts of Balantidium coli the contents of nucleic acids were compared, with the use of cytochemical methods. There is more RNA (nuclear and cytoplasmatic) in trophozoites, but the content of DNA is the same in both trophozoites and cysts. Some morphometric parameters, allowing to compare trophozoites and cysts of B. coli, were obtained on the basis of cytophotometric determination of the cytochemical reactions' intensity and its computer analysis. These studies showed greater compactness of nuclear chromatin, higher homogeneity of chromatin's structures in cysts in comparison with trophozoites, and finally, decrease in the circumference and area of cysts of B. coli.