Pyknosis (Pyknosis)

Pyknosis is the process of condensation and shrinkage of the cell nucleus into a homogeneous hyperchromic dense mass. Typically, pyknosis occurs when a cell dies.

With pyknosis, chromatin in the cell nucleus becomes compacted and the nuclear volume decreases. The kernel takes on a round or oval shape and becomes darker and denser when stained. These changes are visible under a microscope.

Pyknosis often precedes other degenerative changes in the nucleus, such as karyorrhexis and karyolysis. It can be reversible in the early stages, but with further progression it leads to irreversible damage to the nucleus and cell death.

The term "pyknotic" is used to describe a cell nucleus that exhibits pyknotic features. Pyknotic nuclei are characterized by high basophilia and density compared to the normal nucleus. The presence of a large number of pyknotic nuclei indicates a pathological process in the tissue.

Pyknosis is a phenomenon that occurs during cell death, which is characterized by condensation and shrinkage of the cell nucleus into a homogeneous, hyperchromic and dense mass. This process can occur in various tissues and organs, but pyknosis is most often observed in tumor cells, where it can lead to loss of their differentiation and ability to reproduce.

Pyknotic is an adjective derived from the word “pyknosis”, and is used to describe the phenomenon of shrinkage of the nucleus of a cell when it dies. This phenomenon may be due to various factors, such as malnutrition of the cell, exposure to toxins or radiation, as well as genetic mutations. In some cases, the pyknotic nucleus may persist for a long time after cell death, which can lead to the formation of pathological formations.

Pyknotic cells can be found in various diseases such as cancer, myocardial infarction, liver cirrhosis and others. They can also be used as markers to assess the extent of tissue and organ damage.

In general, the pyknotic process is an important mechanism that allows cells to adapt to changing environmental conditions and survive for a certain time, but its excessive manifestation can lead to the development of various pathologies.

Pyknosis is the extreme stage of the process of the cell nucleus, known as karyopyknosis, or karyorrhexis - autolysis. In this case, the cell organelle, the nucleus, turns into a dense conglomerate, painted in a delicate lilac-violet color. So, pyknosis is a reduction in size, deformation, thinning and wrinkling of the nucleus, making it microscopically indistinguishable. It is accompanied by its compaction and the presence of a clear boundary between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. In some cases, the cell may appear completely transparent and lack a nucleus. It is believed that if it maintains this morphology for a long time, this is evidence of its potential ability to divide. Death resulting from the degradation of cellular structures is the result of gradual autolysis, followed by denaturation and post-mortem transformation of proteins into their breakdown products. Actually, Pyknovz itself “works” for only a few minutes, and the next day, when receiving preparations from dead cells, it can look like a phenomenon of atrophy - nuclear rhexis. If the nucleus fails to complete its phagocytic function and get rid of the particles inside it, then after a few hours fragments and clusters of these objects will accumulate in chromatin clusters near the polar ring, forming a halo surrounded by nuclei.