[The morphological study of the cysts Pelomyxa palustris Greeff, 1874].

Pelomyxa palustris Greeff, 1874, is the only species of pelomixoid amoebas with the rest cysts in its life cycle. The morphology of the P. palustris has been studied by the light and electronic microscopy. Encystation of P. palustris under climatic conditions of North-West of Russia occurs within August-September. Rest cysts have a complex, trilaminar wall. Two inner lamina are the dense endocyst and the laminated mesocyst, thickness of each layer runs up to 0.6-0.7 microm. Thickness of the electron-dense ectocyst usually does not exceed 0.1-0.2 microm. The encystated cell of P. palustris has the unique structure. About 60 % of the cell volume are occupied by a huge vacuole placed in the center and filled up with the prokaryotic cytobionts. Different vacuoles, small vesicles of various nature, autophagosomes and lipid drops could be found inside that huge vacuole. The amoebae cytoplasm occupies the space in between endocyst's inner surface and the central vacuole. No any inclusions, prokaryotic cytobionts and most of cell organelles are absent in the cytoplasm. There are 4 large nuclei filled with relatively homogeneous karyoplasm lying in the cytoplasm. Nuclear envelope forms a lot of long tubular channels, running through the cytoplasm and lining the membrane of the central vacuole. Encysted pelomixoid stay in this state up until the beginning of excystation. Excystation of P. palustris in the studied region occurs in spring, during the latter half of April and the beginning of May. Cysts undergo complex morphofunctional changes, related to the reorganization of the wall and formation of young multinucleate amoebas. Only one wall lamina of the 3 initial ones is left up to the moment of excystation. The central vacuole endures ruination and its content penetrates into the cytoplasm. Pelomixoid nuclei divide twice. Prokaryotic cytobionts are localized in cytoplasm and in the perinuclear area. Young multinuclear species of P. palustris coming out of the cysts do not differ in their structure from the adult forms.