MORPHOLOGY 



71 



soluble in alcohol, acetic acid, etc. Osmium tetroxide blackens the 

 chondriosomes, but the color bleaches faster than in the Golgi bodies. 

 Janus green B stains them even in 1 : 500,000 solution, but stains also 

 other inclusions, such as the Golgi bodies (in some cases) and certain 

 bacteria. According to Horning (1926), janus red is said to be a more 

 exclusive chondriosome stain, as it does not stain bacteria. The 

 chemical composition of the chondriosome seems to be somewhat 

 similar to that of the Golgi body; namely, it is a protein compounded 

 with a lipoidal substance. If the protein is small in amount, it is 



Fig. 26. The chrondiosomes in Peranema trichophorum, X1750 (Hall) 

 a, b, surface views and c, optical section of a single individual. 



said to be unstable and easily attacked by reagents; on the other 

 hand, if the protein is relatively abundant, it is more stable and 

 resistant to reagents. 



The chondriosomes occur as small spherical to oval granules, rod- 

 like or filamentous bodies, and show a tendency to adhere to or re- 

 main near protoplasmic surfaces. In many cases they are distributed 

 without any definite order; in others, as in Paramecium or Opalina, 

 they are regularly arranged between the basal granules of cilia 

 (Horning). In Peranema trichophorum (Fig. 26), according to Hall, 

 the chondriosomes are said to be located along the spiral striae of 

 the pellicle. Causey (1925) noticed in Leishmania hrasiliensis usu- 

 ally eight spherical chondriosomes in each individual, which become 

 rod-shaped when the organism divides. He further observed spher- 

 ical and rod-like chondriosomes in Notiluca scintillans. 



