232 Papers from the Department of Marine Biology. 
logical phase, a permanent condition for a considerable period of the 
animal’s life (adult life or later adult life)? (4) In case the third 
proposition is true, is this orientation of physiological value to the 
working of the cell (induction of electro-motor impulse) or is it of no 
significance to this activity? (5) In case it is not a condition that lends 
itself to the physiological activity of the cell, is the orientation due to 
the physical properties of the nuclear organs with reference to the 
electric current that passes through these cells at the time of discharge 
of the electric organs? (6) Inthe same case as just precedes, is it due 
solely to differences in the specific gravity of the various nuclear organs 
and particularly to the greater weight of the plasmosome? 
The question of the orientation of the entire nucleus in the cell as 
described by Magini, 2. e., its apparent movement in a ventral position 
with the accompanying meniscoid space on its dorsal surface will be 
considered with the question of the polarization of the nuclear organs. 
ACCOUNT OF THE EXPERIMENTS. 
Torpedo ocellata, No. 1, 15 cm. long (small), killed with knife; gave many 
shocks before and during operation; plasmosome placed in various positions 
in nucleus, often touching some part of nuclear membrane. About 80 per cent 
show a tendency to be ventral in position. A few cells contain multiple 
plasmosomes. A larger number of telonucleoli than in most examples. 
Perhaps 10 per cent of the cells show it. 
Torpedo ocellata, No. 2, 16 cm. long (small), killed with chloroform vapor. 
Plasmosomes single and sometimes double; one often lighter than the other in a 
varying degree. About 65 per cent decidedly ventral in position and resting 
against the nuclear membrane: Few telonucleoli. Some multiple plasmosome. 
Torpedo ocellata, No. 3, 30 cm. long (large), pithed with knife, many shocks. 
One side of the electric lobe was subjected to a direct current of 110 volts in 
the usual glass tube with a diameter of 4 mm. and a length of the tissue mass 
of 1 em. Direction of current was from anterior to posterior. Sublimate 
fixation. Current was weakened by some resistance. 
The other side of the electric lobe was subjected to 543 times gravity in the 
centrifuge for 1 minute, then fixed in Bouin’s fluid. Plasmosome was thrown 
from a normal position to the + side of the nucleus and against the nuclear 
wall. Force exerted in an anterior-posterior direction. A considerable amount 
of natural ventral orientation was indicated by the new position of the plasmo- 
somes. Plasmosomes single in cells. No telonucleoli observed. 
Torpedo marmorata, No. 4, 30 em. long (large), killed with knife; many 
shocks before operation. Plasmosomes show very well-developed ventral 
orientation, about 70 per cent. Many cells seen where neurite goes off from 
either side or from dorsal side, while plasmosome is typically oriented on ventral 
side of nucleus and touching nuclear membrane. No telonucleoli observed. 
Plasmosomes single. A number of nerve processes traced from various posi- 
tions of origin in different cells. 
One bit of tissue was centrifuged for 30 minutes at 828.5 times gravity. 
Force was exerted from head toward tail or at right angles to any possible 
axis of orientation. 
Another was subjected to 110 volts of direct electric current in usual tube 
of 4 mm. diameter; 1 cm. of tissue for 4 minutes. Tissue was ‘‘cooked”’ 
and then fixed in Bouin’s fluid. 
