CYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE ULTRASTRUCTURES OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII AND ALLIED ORGANISMS.
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii and its allied organisms such as Sarcocystis, Besnoitia, Lankesterella, Eimeria and Plasmodium have several particular organelles in common. They are toxonemes, conoid, polar ring and submembranous fibrils. Physiological functions of these organelles have not yet been elucidated. The ATPase activity and the glucose transport in the Toxoplasma cell were investigated to elucidate whether or not the organelles mentioned above might have special reactions to these tests. The ATPase activity was demonstrated in the cell wall, toxonemes, Golgi complex, mitochondoria and cytoplasmic vacuoles. The conspicious positive activity in toxonemes suggests that this organelle is partaking an active metabolism. ATPase activity was negative in conoid and polar ring. Glucose transport was detected by the autoradiography. During the first 30 minutes'sensitization, H3-glucose was mainly demonstrated in the peripheral cytoplasm while after 60 minutes' sensitization, it was found in Golgi complex, cytoplasmic vacuoles and on the surface of toxonemes. An active nutrient intake from the body surface and possibility of a secretory function of the toxonemes are suggested. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0692941
Entities
People
- Hisakichi Matsubayashi