HISTORY OF MITOCHONDRIAL RESEARCH 19 



in the phosphoKpin content of the same organ on chemical analy- 

 sis. Thus Mayer, Rathery, and Schaeffer (1914, p. 612) have been 

 able to alter the mitochondria experimentally in liver cells. In 

 stages with more mitochondrial substance, chemical analysis 

 showed an increase in phosphorized lipoid; in stages with less, a 

 diminution. Faurd-Fremiet (1912b, p. 347) has extracted from 

 the ovaries and testes of Ascaris a phosphatid with properties 

 identical with those of mitochondria in the cells of these organs. 



The evidence given here is limited in application. The 

 experiments of Mayer, Rathery and Schaeffer were based on 

 chemical analysis and, apparently, demonstrated that there 

 was a relationship between the number of mitochondria and 

 the amount of phosphorized lipoid present. This work was 

 done on the Uver. Is there any evidence that the same 

 would hold true in other tissues? The evidence is not given. 

 Furthermore, it is at least possible that the methods used to 

 reduce the number of mitochondria at the same time affected 

 the lipoid constituents of other portions of the cell. The 

 work of Faure-Fremiet also is not conclusive in that he did 

 not demonstrate that the phosphatid which was extracted 

 came from the mitochondria. 



(8) Russo (1912, p. 215) has apparently been able to increase 

 the number of mitochondria in the oocytes of the fowl by the 

 injection of lecithin. R. Van der Stricht (1911, p. 455) found 

 that there are two different kinds of eggs in the cat, one containing 

 much vitellus and the other containing only a small amount; 

 and further, that, following intraperitoneal injections of lecithin, 

 the relative number of female offspring increased noticeably. In 

 the normal condition 62 per cent are males, while after treating 

 in this way only 23 per cent are males. That is to say, the ad- 

 ministration of lecithin increases the amount of deutoplasm in 

 the eggs, increases the number of eggs with much deutoplasm as 

 contrasted with those with small amount, and in this way increases 

 the percentage of females in the offspring. While this is of great 

 interest in the determination of sex, and will be discussed in that 



