Pyknosis
Encyclopedia : P : PY : PYK : Pyknosis
Pyknosis, or karyopyknosis, is the condensation of chromatin in the nucleus of a cell undergoing programmed cell death (see Naoufal Zamzami and Guido Kroemer: "Apoptosis: Condensed matter in cell death", Nature Vol. 401 p. 127, 9 September. 1999 [link]).
It is followed by Karyorrhexis, or fragmentation of the nucleus.
Pyknosis occurs due to the fragmentation of DNA during apoptosis.
See also
- Apoptosis, especially the section on the morphology of apoptotic cells.
- Karyorrhexis
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