Nuclear Division in Pelomyxa illinoisensis Kudo*

Abstract

SYNOPSIS. Pelomyxa illinoisensis exhibits several phenomena of an interesting and uncommon nature, such as the presence of polar granules and the appearance of chromosomes through most of the resting and dividing stages of the nucleus. For these reasons and because of the importance of the nucleus as a stable characteristic in the taxonomy of amoebae, this study of the nucleus and nuclear division was undertaken.Culture methods were the same as those used for P. carolinensis. Best fixatives for nuclei were Carnoy, Flemming, 10% formalin, Duboscq‐Brazil, Schaudinn and 2% osmium tetroxide. The body shape of P. illinoisensis in nuclear division is correlated with the stage of nuclear division and resembles the same stages in Amoeba proteus and P. carolinensis, with the exception of a ragged appearance of the cytoplasm of organisms containing prophase nuclei and the halo‐like appearance of the pseudopods in those containing metaphase nuclei. The condensation of resting nuclei when subjected to acidified methyl green, reported by Kudo (18), occurred with all fixatives used with the exception of 10% formalin and 2% osmium tetroxide. The metaphase nuclei have a disk of polar granules on either side of the equatorial plate with fibers running from them to the chromosomes. The nature of these granules is unknown. Similarities and differences between P. illinoisensis and P. carolinensis are discussed.