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Electron microscopy of dividing cells

IV. Behaviour of spindle microtubules during nuclear division in the plasmodium of the myxomycete, Physarum polycephalum

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Abstract

During intranuclear mitosis in plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum the primordium of spindle microtubules which is a somewhat electron opaque, amorphous structure with fibrous or granular elements, occurs in the center of early prophase, 20 to 30 minutes before metaphase. Then, the primordium seems to divide into two parts. Spindle microtubules develop radially from the primordia of spindle microtubules. These spindle microtubules increase in number and length during prophase. Spindle microtubules are completed in about five minutes before metaphase. The nuclear envelope remains intact during prophase, but after metaphase it breaks at the polar regions. The nuclear envelope of the daughter nucleus is re-formed from the original nuclear envelope.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Laboratories, Nara Women's University, Nara, Japan

    Aiko Sakai & Michio Shigenaga

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  1. Aiko Sakai
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  2. Michio Shigenaga
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Additional information

The authors wish to express their thanks Professor K. Ueda for valuable advice. They would also like to thank Professor N. Kamiya of Osaka University who kindly supplied the material (Physarum polycephalum) used in the present study.

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Sakai, A., Shigenaga, M. Electron microscopy of dividing cells. Chromosoma 37, 101–116 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329562

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329562

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