Karyorrhexis

Karyorrhexis (from Greek κάρυον karyon 'kernel, seed, nucleus' and ῥῆξις rhexis 'bursting') is the destructive fragmentation of the nucleus of a dying cell whereby its chromatin is distributed irregularly throughout the cytoplasm. It is usually preceded by pyknosis and can occur as a result of either programmed cell death (apoptosis), cellular senescence, or necrosis.

In apoptosis, the cleavage of DNA is done by Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ -dependent endonucleases.

• Morphological characteristics of pyknosis and other forms of nuclear destruction.
• Microscopy of an apoptotic neutrophil with nuclear fragmentation (H&E stain)