The fine structure of the axostyle and its associations with organelles inTrichomonads

The fine structure of the axostyle in the protists Tritrichomonas foetus an d Monocercomonas sp is described using transmission electron microscopy aft er quick-freezing techniques and immunocytochemistry, The axostyle microtub ules presents a lateral projection formed by two protofilaments in addition to the 13 protofilaments normally found in microtubules. The axostyle is a ssociated with other cell structures such as hydrogenosomes, endoplasmic re ticulum, sigmoid filaments and glycogen particles. The microtubules of the pelta-axostylar system are connected to each other by bridges regularly spa ced with an interval of 9 nm, Labeling of the axostyle was observed after c ell incubation with monoclonal antibodies recognizing alpha-tubulin and ace tylated-tubulin, (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.