STOMATOGENESIS IN THE KARYORELICTEAN CILIATE LOXODES STRIATUS - A LIGHT AND SCANNING MICROSCOPIC STUDY

Light microscopic and SEM studies have shown that the karyorelictean c iliate Loxodes striatus has a buccokinetal stomatogenesis. In the inte rphase cell the subapical oral cavity is equipped with four oral kinet ies of different organization. In addition, the oral cavity has a tube -like prolongation, called vestibular extension. On the right side the oral cavity is bordered by a paroral kinety and on the left side it i s bordered by an inverted left pseudobuccal kinety. In between these m ost prominent oral kineties there lies an intravestibular kinety paral lel to the entire length of the paroral and then continuing down into the vestibular extension. In the upper part of the oral cavity between the intravestibular kinety and the left pseudobuccal kinety there is a short file of four widely spaced buccal dikinetids, which give origi n to four anterior buccal cilia. Posterior to the oral cavity close to the actual ventral line of the cell there is a ventral kinetofragment of 8-10 barren dikinetids.