Abstract
Morphological changes during resting cyst formation (encystment) of Colpoda cucullus were examined. At 1 hr after encystment induction, a number of vesicles containing the electron-dense and toluidine blue (TB) positive materials were fused with large vacuoles to excrete the contents, and the vacuoles opened to the extracellular space to excrete. In this stage, the rounded precystic cells were surrounded by the first-synthesized cyst wall layer (L1 layer), and the cilia were resorbed inside the L1 layer. Thereafter (1-2 hr), a secondary layer (L2 layer) was formed and subsequently a deeply TB stained substance was diffused into the space between the plasma membrane and L2 layer. At 3-6 hr, numerous endoplasmic reticula (ER) associated with ribosomes occupied the cytoplasm, indicating that cyst wall precursors such as glycoconjugates were being synthesized. By a week after encystment induction, the cyst wall composed of three distinct layers covered with a fibrous (mucous) coat was completed. The kinetosomes were still observed in 3-day old cysts.
