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Figure 3.
Light microscopy of cell death in
mec-4(gf) and deg-1(gf)
animals. A-J, Degeneration of PVM in ZB7.
A, A predegeneration normal-looking PVM cell ~2 hr
after its production. This is not the same cell depicted in subsequent
panels. The arrowhead points to the cell body.
B, Start of degeneration (0 min, early degeneration). A small space (arrow) has begun to appear around the PVM
nucleus (arrowhead). C, At 30 min.
The cell shows obvious swelling; the nuclear envelope is not easily
distinguished. D, At 90 min (middle degeneration). The
cytoplasm clears, and the nucleus swells. E, At 120 min.
The nucleus has moved to one side of the vacuolated space.
F, At 160 min (10 min before the L1 lethargus, late
degeneration). The cytoplasmic vacuole and nucleus
(arrowhead) are smaller. G, At 190 min (during the L1 lethargus). The vacuole and nucleus are very poorly
seen. H, At 7 hr. The vacuole and nucleus
(arrowhead) are visible but condensed.
I, At 19 hr. The nucleus (arrowhead) has condensed further. J, At 24 hr. Only debris
(arrowhead) remains. K-N,
Degeneration of PVC in deg-1(u38). K, At
~0.5 hr after the start of degeneration. L, At 1 hr.
The nucleus has enlarged. M, At 1.5 hr. The nucleus
begins to condense. N, At 2.2 hr. The nucleus continues
to condense, especially at its periphery. The cell disappeared in
another 2.2 hr.
