Chapter XX 



— 217 — Summary and Conclusions 



and are not displaced by centrifuging. They behave like extremely 

 fragile elements, changing very readily under various physico- 

 chemical influences (disturbances in osmotic equilibrium, pressure 

 on the cover glass). When altered, they swell and then become 

 transformed into large vesicles (cavulation) . 



Living chondriosomes can be stained with Janus green. Dahlia 

 violet, methyl violet and other dyes. Staining of the chondrio- 

 somes is vital only if these dyes are used at very low concentra- 

 tions. Otherwise it is sublethal and after a certain time causes the 



>P 



.• •• 



*-< J* * * It ,M I •/•• , 



Fig. 150. — Allium Cepa. Various forms taken by chondriosomes (M) and 

 leucoplasts (P) in living epidermal cells of the bulb. Gg. lipide granules. 



death of the cells. 



From a chemical point of view, the chondriosomes have a lipo- 

 protein constitution and seem to be composed of a protein and 

 phosphoaminolipide complex which is much richer in lipides than 

 is the cytoplasm. The chemical behavior of the chondriosomes is 

 absolutely different from that of chromatin and they do not show 

 the Feulgen reaction. Their lipide content gives them a series 

 of very definite histochemical characteristics. They are profoundly 

 altered by fixatives containing alcohol or acetic acid ; they are pre- 

 served and show a predilection for staining only with special 

 methods called mitochondrial methods; they are stained because 

 of the lipides in their substratum. 



