Claus et al.: "Organized Elements" in Chondrites 593 



vital or supravital stain generally used for the demonstration of mitochondria. 

 It is considered to be more or less specific for ribonucleic acids. The reticulum 

 that developed in the organized elements was similar to that obtained after 

 their treatment with 6 N HCl. The meaning of this staining pattern is ob- 

 scure. 



Metanil yellow alone, in a watery solution was applied to rule out the possi- 

 biUty that the observed yellow coloration of Staplin's form after Gridley stain- 

 ing was due either to the hydrolysis with chromic acid or to the Schiff reagent. 

 As was the case in the Gridley stained preparations, after treatment with the 

 simple watery preparations, Staplin's Coelestites turned into a striking yellow. 

 A few of type 1 organized elements also became yellow. With our present 

 knowledge, we cannot satisfactorily interpret these results. 



Neutral red, usually used in biology for its nontoxic character as a vital or 

 supravital stain, stained some of type 1, 2, and 3 organized elements a homo- 

 geneous red. 



Ninhydrin, this most sensitive amino-acid or protein reagent, stained lilac 

 several type 1 and 2 organized elements; however, it gave a purple coating 

 to the mineral debris in the carbonaceous meteorite and soil samples. The 

 ordinary stony meteorites gave negative results. 



Periodic acid-Schifif (PAS) reagent seemed to be the least adequate for 

 differential staining. Being a general carbohydrate stain, it dyed magenta 

 color the pollen and starch grains and algal cells. Several of the organized ele- 

 ments of types 1, 2, and 3 also took this stain and developed a color similar to 

 those of the algal cells or starch or pollen grains. The minerals of the Orgueil 

 and Ivuna meteorites and those of the soil samples also took up the stain. 

 There was a significant difference between the shades of the organized elements 

 and the starch or pollen grains on one hand and that of the minerals on the 

 other; the latter having a more "dirty" magenta color. Furthermore, some 

 type 1 organized elements remained totally unstained among well stained 

 mineral aggregates. It was interesting to see that the minerals of the Murray 

 meteorite did not, or only very occasionally, stain with PAS and that the 

 staining of both the Holbrook and Bruderheim meteorites was negative. The 

 quality and intensity of the color of the stained organized elements resembled 

 closely the color of the controls. One may speculate that some kind of chemical 

 similarity may exist between the organized elements and the controls that 

 contain carbohydrates. Because of the nonspecificity of this reaction, how- 

 ever, it seems advisable not to attempt to reach any premature conclusion in 

 this matter. 



It was previously mentioned that Sudan IV was the only stain which left 

 unaffected the organized elements, although it stained vivid red the oil drop- 

 lets of the terricole Diatoms. 



Toluidine blue gave a blue or pink color with some types 1, 2, and 3 organized 

 elements. In several cases the minerals of the carbonaceous meteorites and 

 of the soil samples also turned blue. Metachromasia, however, was not ob- 

 served with the mineral particles. Samples of Orgueil, after being treated 

 with boiling HF for 10 minutes, left acid resistant peUicles of the types 1, and 

 2 organized elements, which after staining with toluidine blue showed signs of 



