Karyolysis

Morphological characteristics of karyolysis and other forms of nuclear destruction.

Karyolysis (Greek karyon = kernel, seed or nucleus, and lýsis from lýein, to separate) is the complete dissolution of the chromatin matter of a dying cell due to the activity of DNase. The whole cell will eventually stain uniformly with eosin after karyolysis. It is usually preceded by karyorrhexis and occurs mainly as a result of necrosis, while in apoptosis after karyorrhexis the nucleus usually dissolves into apoptotic bodies.

Additional images

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  Micrograph showing karyolysis and contraction band necrosis in an individual that had a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

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  Micrograph showing karyolysis and contraction band necrosis (left of image) and ischemic (nucleated) cardiac myocytes (right of image) in an individual that had a myocardial infarction.

See also

• Apoptosis
• Necrosis
• Pyknosis
• Karyorrhexis