Fine‐Structural Aspects of Macrogametogenesis in <i>Eimeria magna</i>*^†

Abstract

SYNOPSIS. Macrogamonts in tissues from rabbits killed 5 1/2 days after inoculation with Eimeria magna oocysts were studied with the electron microscope. In young macrogamonts, parts of cytoplasm, sometimes including micronemes, were pinched off into the parasitophorous vacuole. In all stages of development, small segments of the inner membrane complex were present beneath the limiting membrane. Micropores also were seen in all stages, and some apparently functional ones were present in mature macrogametes. Wall‐forming bodies of Type I and Type II were observed in relatively early stages. The former were less numerous than the latter, which had a more compact appearance than in other species. Usually, several Golgi complexes were present and several Golgi adjuncts occurred in the vicinity of the nucleus in all stages of development. Microgametes were observed in the cytoplasm of host cells harboring immature macrogametes.