Some Distinct Types of Distribution of Cytoplasmic Ribonucleic Acid with Related Changes of Cytochondria in Liver Cells under Normal and Pathological Conditions

Abstract

1. The difference of the staining behavior of nucleoproteins contained in chromatin and ergastoplasm or nucleoli against several basic dyes (pyronine-methyl green, thionine, etc.), which has recently been discussed by the author (1948a, b, c), may be distinguished terminologically as follows: chromatin is eubasophile while ergastoplasm and nucleoli are heterobasophile.
2. The morphological changes of heterobasophile ergastoplasm (ribonucleic acid) and cytochondria of liver cells under normal and pathological conditions have been classified into four main types and described in detail. The important characteristics of these types consist in appearance, disappearance, and distribution of the ribonucleic acid and relative quantity and dimension of the cytochondria. The four types may, for convenience sake, be called 1. normal type, 2. reacting type, 3. mortal type or “catastrophe”, and 4. recovering type.
3. The nucleotide and protein natures of ergastoplasm and their implications in cell metabolism, the localization of ribonucleic acids in the cytoplasm, the relation of the morphological changes of ergastoplasm and of cytochondria to pathological consumption of body proteins, and the mechanisms of pathological enlargement of cytochondria have been discussed.
Lastly, it is my pleasant duty to express my hearty thanks to Dr. O. MINOUCHI who led me into this field of cytology always helping me with very instructive and valuabe advice throughout the course of this study. I am also indebted to the members of Medico-Biological Institute of Minophagen Pharmaceutical Co., and especially to Messrs. I. SATO, Zoölogical Institute of Kyoto University, and T. HAMA, Zoölogical Institute of Tokyo University, for their kind assistance and criticism.