210 JOHN SUNDWALL 



ments of Solger or the ergastoplasmic filaments of Prenant, 

 Garnier, Bouin." Bensley is inclined to the opinion that these 

 basophile filaments are fixation artifacts. At least he did not 

 see them in the Hving cells. 



Unfortunately many investigators have failed to take cogni- 

 zance of this valuable contribution of Bensley's. Since its publi- 

 cation many still are laboring under the old confusion. Even 

 Hoven ('12) speaks of "vegetativen Ergastidien und Chondrio- 

 men" as the same structures. Champy likewise fails to ap- 

 preciate their difference — ''Mitochondria und Ergastoplasma 

 scheinen eine einzige und die gleiche Formation darzustellen." 



Basal striations then are due to (a) Mitochondria which are 

 either rod- or thread-like structures or granules so arranged as 

 to form rows (Chondriomiten) . The long axis of the former 

 and the rows of the latter are generally arranged parallel to each 

 other and perpendicular to the base of the cells, (b) An inter- 

 mitochondrial cytoplasm which may be basophile in reaction 

 and depends upon the existence of the former (a). When the 

 mitochdonria are not preserved or remain unstained the lattei 

 (b) is prominent. 



The presence, shape, and arrangement of mitochondria, then, 

 should determine to a great extent whether basal striations are 

 present. It will be recalled that in the discussion of mitochondria 

 these structures in the cells of the secreting tubules and inter- 

 calary ducts are more or less spherical or very short rods and 

 irregularly distributed throughout the cytoplasm. No parallel 

 rods or rows were seen. Further, no deeply staining basophil 

 substance was observed. Again the secretion granules filled 

 the entire cell. These conditions exclude the possibility of basal 

 striations being present. I have not observed any semblance 

 of such in the tubules or intercalary ducts in any of my prep- 

 arations fixed in at least ten different fixing solutions. 



The intralobular and interlobular ducts on the other hand 

 possess an arrangement of mitochondria necessary to form basal 

 filaments. However, no intermitochondrial basophil substance 

 is present. It was not until I had availed myself of Bensley's 

 method that I was con\'inced that basal striations of anv kind 



