Synergid cells undergo degeneration and death in response to penetration by the pollen tube. It is an active process that involves a dramatic decrease in cell volume, collapse of the vacuoles, and complete disintegration of the plasma membrane and most organelles. [ GOC:sm GOC:isa_complete http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12215516 ]
Synonyms: synergid cell death synergid degeneration