THE GOLGI APPARATUS OF AMOEBA PROTEUS PALLAS

¹ UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

1. The Golgi apparatus of Amba proteus is the characteristic protozoan type of globules and spherules with clear centers and dark rims. These spherules, from a central focus, appear to be crescent-shaped structures. Small black granules appear without black centers.

2. These Golgi bodies are readily blackened by osmic acid and stained with thionin.

3. At the beginning of the secretory cycle of metazoan gland cells, the Golgi apparatus hypertrophies and globules are formed; the globules of Amba proteus are believed to be homologous to these structures.

4. Since the secretory cycle is a continuous process in Amba, it is suggested that this is the reason for the absence of a Golgi network.

5. It is suggested that the minute vacuoles which occur in the endoplasm of Amba are associated with the crescent-like Golgi bodies, a relationship which is similar to that existing between the metazoan Golgi apparatus and the secretory cycle.

6. The contractile vacuole of Amba is formed by a union of these minute vacuoles. It is possible that this is the reason why the contractile vacuole of Amba is not blackened by osmic acid like the contractile vacuoles of Paramecium caudatum.