CYTOPLASMIC INCLUSIONS 125 



the general heading of transport, and pointed out further that mito- 

 chondria tend to accumulate wherever exchanges are taking place, both 

 within the individual and at the outer surface. Mast and Doyle (1935b) 

 observed that the mitochondria accumulate around the crystal vacuoles 

 while the crystals decrease in size, and with the surface of the refrac- 

 tive bodies while the latter are increasing in size. The mitochondria of 

 Amoeba seem to be a mechanism for intracellular transport and for 

 carrying amylase to the food vacuoles, digested material from the food 

 vacuoles and crystal vacuoles to the refractive bodies, and metabolic 

 wastes to the contractile vacuoles. However, since Holter and Kopac 

 (1937) have shown that dipeptidase is not associated with mito- 

 chondria, and Volkonsky (1933) and MacLennan (1936) have shown 

 cases in which vacuome alone touches the food vacuole, and Hopkins 

 (1938b) cases in which no preformed granules are associated with the 

 vacuole, it is clear that the mitochondria are not necessary in all cases 

 either for transport function or a support for enzymes. 



The supposed universality and permanence of mitochondria have led 

 to many suggestions that they are concerned with some vital part of 

 cellular activity, some function more universal than secretion and 

 storage. Some evidence to this effect has been presented by Joyet- 

 Lavergne (1927-35), both from the standpoint of the presence of 

 materials active in respiration (see p. 121) and from the standpoint 

 of a direct demonstration of respiratory activity. He finds that vital 

 dyes are reduced most strongly near mitochondria and that individuals 

 which have large amounts of mitochondria reduce the dyes faster than 

 individuals with less mitochondria. He was able to demonstrate gluta- 

 thione and vitamin A in the mitochondria and attempted to show that 

 these two form an oxidation-reduction system. Rey (1931a, 1931b) 

 repeated Joyet-Lavergne's staining experiments and obtained the same 

 results, but criticized the latter's interpretation of his findings. Rey 

 also repeated the experiments using an electrometric method for deter- 

 mining rH and found no significant differences. Wurmser (1932) like- 

 wise criticized Joyet-Lavergne's interpretations of the stain reactions as 

 indications of oxidation-reduction differences. Bles (1929) found that 

 the oxidation-reduction reactions which he studied in Arcella were asso- 

 ciated with the hyaloplasm, rather than with any granules. Since Joyet- 

 Lavergne found morphological continuity between the mitochondria and 



