[Genome multiplication mechanisms in the development of albumen gland polyploid cells of Succinea lauta (Gastropoda:Pulmonata). VI. Ultrastructural research of endomitotic structure].

This ultrastructural study of endomitosis in polyploid albumen gland cells of succineid snail. S. lauta was made to extend the previous research (Anisimov, 1997). The investigation was prosecuted on ultrathin sections by means of transmission electron microscopy. The insertion of 3H-thymidine and 3H-uridine into the nuclei and the light microscopy control of nuclear ploidy allowed to identify glands on early and intensive polyploidization stages and to ignore pseudoendomitotic terminally differentiated cells. Considering ultrastructural qualities and information about the cell population kinetics enabled us to discriminate between predifferentiation (2-4c), protodifferentiation (4-8c) and promoted differentiation (8-16c) cell stages. The endomitotic cycle was observed synchronously with the development of cytoplasmatic structures and secretion production in differentiating cells of ploidy levels 4-8-16c. According to morphological condition of the chromatin and chromosomes, G1-, S- and G2-interphase periods can be determined, such as successive stages of endomitosis (endopro-, meta-, ana-, and telophase). The following main features of endomitosis are accentuated: the normal (mitotic) chromosome cycle with total compaction in endometaphase and differential decompaction in interphase; the absence of the mitotic spindle; integrity of the nuclear envelope, nucleolus and contacts between them and chromosomes; part of chromosomes split nonsimultaneously and incompletely in the endoanaphase, or endomitosis with diplochromosomes rarely occurs. Chromosome nondisjunction is a temporary process that does not lead to a permanent chromosome endoreduplication (polyteny). It is emphasized that the normal chromosome cycle is combined with a complete block of cytoplasmic structures. Possible reasons of mitotic cycle reduction during the transition of differentiating cells to endomitotic polyploidy are discussed.