Abstract
Summary Morphological events leading to cyst formation in a cyst-bearing Leptomonas sp. isolated from the hemipteran Oncopeltus varicolor were monitored by light and electron microscopy. In LIT cultures, cyst-bearing flagellates appear at the end of the lag phase and from then on the number of detached mature cysts increases steadily. The cysts develop at the point of the flagellum-cell body junction from the parental flagellate. Plasma-membranes of flagellate and cysts remain connected while they remain attached. Immature cysts present microtubules and a large tubular mitochondrion. Mature cysts are dense, ovalshaped, with few distinguishable organelles, such as a modified nucleus, a rudimentary flagellar pocket and a network of fibrils possibly of kinetoplast origin. During excystation, cysts gradually regain the missing organelles and morphological features of active promasti-gotes. Even cysts, with a very dense and distinct chromatin, retain the ability to undergo cell division in culture.
Published Version
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