What is "karyolysis"

n. (context biology English) The dissolution of the nucleus of a cell by the action of deoxyribonuclease

n. disintegration and dissolution of a cell nucleus when a cell dies

Karyolysis (from Greek κάρυον karyon, "kernel, seed or nucleus", and λύσις lysis from λύειν lyein, "to separate") is the complete dissolution of the chromatin of a dying cell due to the enzymatic degradation by endonucleases. The whole cell will eventually stain uniformly with eosin after karyolysis. It is usually associated with karyorrhexis and occurs mainly as a result of necrosis, while in apoptosis after karyorrhexis the nucleus usually dissolves into apoptotic bodies.