1919] Boeck: Studies on Giardia Microti 125 



and encystment with its incident processes of reproduction. When 

 the parabasal bodies have disappeared they are reformed from sub- 

 stances out of the cytoplasm, when metabolism is again normal. 



Alexeieff (1917) has termed the parabasal bodies of flagellates 

 the ' ' kinetoplaste ; ' ' but it does not seem that this name is appropriate 

 for the parabasal organs of Giardia since as we have seen that there are 

 actually two substances which make up the parabasal complex. In 

 cognizance of the presence of the parabasal bodies themselves lying 

 in or upon another substance it seems to the author best to refer to 

 the bodies as parabasal bodies which secrete glycogen. The glycogen 

 is stored up in the other substance, the ground work or paratasal- 

 plasm,. The word kinetoplaste connotes the motor but not the metabolic 

 significance of the parabasal bodies and because, as we have seen, 

 the parabasal bodies are more intimately correlated with the metabolic 

 activity of Giardia it is best to discard the word and to still refer to 

 the complex as parabasal bodies and parabasal-plasm. 



Summary 



From the foregoing data the parabasal bodies were found to be : 



Acidophyllic in constitution. 



They are of cytoplasm origin. 



Their function is to secrete glycogen which is retained for sub- 

 sequent use in the parabasal-plasm. The glycogen constitutes a re- 

 serve food supply which is utilized during the reproductive period 

 and during encystment. 



