The ultrastructure of the cortex of Ophryoscolex purkynjei,an entodiniomorphid ciliate obtained from domesticated cattle rumens, was studied and found to have five layers. A particulate and/or filamentous glycocalyx layer, triple membrane layer, homogeneous epiplasmic layer with very fine grains, microtubular layer characterized with a double row of microtubule bundles each containing at most 6 units, and a compact microfilamentous layer were identified. In addition, scarce and disorganized kinetosomes and related microtubules were found to lie underneath all of these. These observations are discussed with reference to the findings of previous studies of other entodiniomorphid ciliates.

The ultrastructure of the cortex of Ophryoscolex purkynjei,an entodiniomorphid ciliate obtained from domesticated cattle rumens, was studied and found to have five layers. A particulate and/or filamentous glycocalyx layer, triple membrane layer, homogeneous epiplasmic layer with very fine grains, microtubular layer characterized with a double row of microtubule bundles each containing at most 6 units, and a compact microfilamentous layer were identified. In addition, scarce and disorganized kinetosomes and related microtubules were found to lie underneath all of these. These observations are discussed with reference to the findings of previous studies of other entodiniomorphid ciliates.