title: Observations on the ultrastructure of the sporocyst and the initiation of sporozoite formation in Toxoplasma gondii.
abstract: The ultrastructure of the immature sporocyst and the initiation of sporozoite formation in T. gondii was examined in oocysts which had been allowed to sporulate for 12 or 24 hours at 27 degrees C. The sporocyst was ellipsoidal in shape and possessed a two layered sporocyst wall. A nucleus, with associated Golgi bodies, was situated at either end of the organism. The cytoplasm of the sporocyst also contained a number of polysaccharide granules, lipid globules, mitochondria and a few strands of rough endoplasmic reticulum. Sporozoite formation was initiated by the appearance of two dense plaques at either end of the organism in the vicinity of a nucleus, adjacent to the limiting membrane of the organism.
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013170:Spores / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*