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A ribonucleoprotein inclusion body in Entamoeba invadens

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Summary

Cytochemical tests have shown that the chromatoid bodies contain mainly ribonucleic acid and protein. There is no evidence to suggest the presence of any desoxyribonucleic acid, lipid, glycogen, neutral fat, or metaphosphate. The cyclic changes in the chromatoid body have been studied by means of light and electron microscopy and estimations of the total RNA present. The results indicate that the chromatoid bodies arise by a process of aggregation of small groups of 250–300 A units form polycrystalline masses in precystic and early cysts. At the same time there is a steady rise in the amount of RNA present. In the maturing cysts, the crystalline masses fragment into separate particles, but there is no corresponding fall in the amount of RNA. The significance of these results in relation to the previous literature on chromatoid bodies and similarly named cellular inclusions in spermatogenic and plant cells, as well as in the protozoa, is discussed. Attention is drawn to the striking similarity of composition, formation, development and ultimate fate of these various inclusion bodies but as the terminology is still confused it is proposed that the term “chromatoid body” be retained solely for particulate or lamellar ribonucleo-protein accumulations.

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  1. Department of Zoology, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

    Douglas Cameron Barker

  2. Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois, USA

    Douglas Cameron Barker

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Acknowledgements. Most of this study was presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. I should like to express my deep appreciation to Prof. M. M. Swann F. R. S. for his interest and helpful guidance in this work. I am grateful to the Melville Trust for Cancer Research who provided the electron microscope.

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Barker, D.C. A ribonucleoprotein inclusion body in Entamoeba invadens . Z.Zellforsch 58, 641–659 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00410654

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