December, 1954 ]
B.
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karyosome and nuclear membrane took blue stain while the siderophilous body and
the rest of cytoplasm did not react for this ploysaccharide. Host cell was hyper-
trophied and its nucleolus took green stain.
The fully formed first generation merozoite showed green karyosome and bluish
green nuclear membrane.
The acid ploysaccharide was present in karyosomes of the unsegmented second
generation schizonts but their cytoplasm, reflected only a bluish-green hue. Fully
mature merozoites seen in smear preparations contained quite a few blue granules
in the cytoplasm anterior to the nucleus.
Cytoplasm of the microgametocyte displayed a rugged mass of bluish-green
colour, while their pronuclei, and later the comma-shaped bodies of male gametes,
took a deep blue colour.
Early macrogamete showed a light reaction in its nucleus and nuclear mem-
brane. With maturity a fine bluish-green granular material was found to be
sprinkled very sparsely in the cytoplasm. Peripheral globules which by now had
become prominent presented a deep blue colour with a clear halo around them.
Concurrent with the process of fertilization, the contents of these globules were
found to be emptied out to coalesce and form oocystic membranes. In oocysts
no significant colour reaction for hyaluronic acid could be appreciated.
DISCUSSION
Runnstrom [1945] advanced the view that a heparin-like sulphate containing
mucopolysaccharide, under certain conditions is able to inhibit enzymes which
are responsible for protoplasmic clotting. Runnstrom, Tiselius and Lindvall
[1945] claimed that the physiological liquefaction of the protoplasm may be due to a
detergent-like substance. Mónne [1946], and Runnstrom [1949] held this detergent-
like substance to be responsible for the dissolution of various cytoplasmic structures
during mitosis and normal functioning of the cell. It is probable that this anti-
coagulating mucoid is associated with lipids, and consequently possesses the proper-
ties of polar non-polar, surface active, detergent-like compound [Mónne, 1949].
It may be recalled that bacterial mucolipids are powerful agents able to sti-
mulate, injure and destroy cells of host ; and of the cell protoplasm this complex is
an obligatory constituent [Mónne, 1949]. It is very likely that mucoids and mucoli-
pids are able to prevent clotting by virtue of their hydrotropic properties. This
conclusion of Mónne [1949] received a strong support in the work of Lorand [1950]
who found that clots produced upon treatment of purified fibrinogen with purified
thrombin were readily liquefied by area, a strongly hydrotropic substance, and that
they were reconstituted when this hydrotropic substance was removed. It is known
that phosphates are able to increase the hydration of proteins with which they are
associated [Macheboeuf, 1937]. It is highly probable that mucolipids are far more
effective in this respect and mucoids still more so. The lipid may tamper to some
extent hydrotropic properties of the mucopolysaccharide with which it is connected.
These hydrotropic substances may prevent clotting by increasing the hydration
of cytoplasmic particles. Thus, it is not necessary to assume that protoplasmic
clotting is produced by a thrombin-like enzyme but quite likely it is due to other