Fine structures of <i>Trichomonas tenax</i> and <i>Trichomonas hominis</i>

, Lee, Joo Min; , Cho, Kee Mok

doi:1973.11.1.1

Korean J Parasito > Volume 11(1):1973 > Article

Original Article


Korean J Parasitol. 1973 Apr;11(1):1-12. English. Published online Mar 20, 1994. http://dx.doi.org/10.3347/kjp.1973.11.1.1
Copyright © 1973 by The Korean Society for Parasitology


Fine structures of Trichomonas tenax and Trichomonas hominis
Joo-Min Lee and Kee-Mok Cho
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.



Abstract
Trichomonas tenax(T. tenax) and Trichomonas hominis (T. hominis) were collected, cultured and sampled for comparative microscopical studies using electron microscope. 1. Both flagellates were oval in shape and surrounded by a distinct outer membrane. Five recurrent flagella and one anterior flagellum had, each, 9 paris of peripheral and 1 pair of central fibrils, Undulating membrane was curved over the recurrent flagella, and bended in the middle at right angles with cell surface. Cytostome, engulfing bacteria, was observed in T. hominis. 2. In the cytoplasm, there were fine dense glycogen particles, and vacuoles containing ingested materials. Dense pigment rods were also observed in both flagellates, but the rods were not distributed around the vacuoles in T. hominis. 3. In T. tenax axostyle appeared as a cup-shaped structure comprising a single row of 41 fibrils, each about 120 Å in diameter. It enclosed glycogen particles, and the open side was faced to the nucleus. 4. Endoplasmic reticulum was observed around the nucleus, but it was less developed in T. hominis. 5. Nucleus was ovoid having double nuclear membrane, which was clearly defined in T. hominis. 6. Blepharoplast, parabasal body, Golgi appartus and mitochondrion was not observed in both flagellates.

Figures


	Fig. 1 Ultrastructure of Trichomonas tenax. RF: recurrent flagella, ER: endoplasmic reticulum, UM: undulating membrane, CM: cell membrane, B: bacteria, NN: nucloelus, V: vacuole, NM: nuclear membrane, G: glycogen granule, N; nucleus, DG: dense granule


	Fig. 2 Nucleus of Trichomonas tenax (1). Nucleolus (NN) was seen in the nucleus (N), Endoplasmic reticulum surrounds nucleus with 3 to 4 layers. In cytoplasm, club-shaped dense granules (DG) are aggregated. Glycogen granule (G) is scattered in the cytoplasm.


	Fig. 3 Nucleus of Trichomonas tenax (2). Beside nucleus (N), small pore arranged as 41 arrow-form that is seemed to be cross section of axon (A) fibril. Inner part of axon is packed with glycogen (G) granule. Dense granules (DG) seemed to be paraxostylar granule, are distributed in the outer part of axon.


	Fig. 4 Undulating membrane of Trichomonas tenax. In the curved undulating membrane (UM), two fibril is paralleled and fused in the apex.


	Fig. 5 A part of anterior flagellum and cytoplasm. In the cross section of anterior flagellum (AF), one central fibril and each one peripheral fibril in each side was seen. Also curved undulating membrane was also seen. In the cytoplasm, dense granule (DG), glycogen granule (G), endoplasmic reticulum (ER), vacuole etc are observed.


	Fig. 6 Recurrent flagella of Trichomonas tenax. In the cross section of recurrent flagella of Trichomonas tenax, nine pairs of fibril and one pair of central fibril are seen.


	Fig. 7 Ultrastructure of Trichomonas hominis. UM: undulating membrane, V: vacuole, B; bacteria, N: nucleus, DG: dense granule, AR; accesoric rootlet fiber, ER: endoplasmic reticulum, G; glycogen granule.


	Fig. 8 Nucleus of Tichomonas hominis Nucleus (N) is surrounded with double fold nuclear membrane (NM). Endoplasmic nucleus (EN), accesoric rootlet fiber (AR) etc are observed around nucleus. Dense granule (DG) are scattered around nucleus.


	Fig. 9 Costa of Trichomonas hominis. C: costa, ER; endoplasmic reticulum, UN: undulating membrane, DM: dense material, RF: recurrent fibril, N: nucleus


	Fig. 10 Dense granule of Trichomonas hominis. In front of Trichomonas, 5 dense granules are present. paracostal granules are seen both sides of costa (C).

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