Differential Interference Microscopy of Intranuclear Actin Rods in Dictyostelium discoideum Spores

Abstract

In this work, intranuclear rod-shaped structures that appeared in NC-4 spores matured without stress conditions were examined with a differential interference microscope (Nomarski-type). It was found that more than 70% of the spores had intranuclear rods, and these spores maintained the structures for at least 30 days after the fruiting bodies were formed. Thus, we suppose that the intranuclear actin rods participate in the stabilization of the dormant stage matured NC-4 spores.