Ultracentrifugation and Cytology of Spirillum volutans

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Abstract
All the granules visible in living S. volutans are displaced to the centrifugal region upon ultracentrifuging. There are at least 2 kinds of granules, as is demonstrated by the fact that certain ones stain in iron hematoxylin while others do not. Certain of the large clear, vacuole-like inclusions which do not stain in iron hematoxylin reduce osmic acid. However, since this reaction does not take place in the great majority of these they cannot be regarded as fat. That they are heavier than the cytoplasm surrounding them is also opposed to their interpretation as fat. However, they may be reserve food with a peripheral layer of fat. Although a clear differentiation cannot be made among the granules by staining in Fe hematoxylin following fixation in Regand''s fluid, it is probable that some of the smaller ones, i.e., those staining vitally in Janus green B, may represent mitochondria or mitochondria-like bodies. Chromatin responding positively to the Feulgen reaction has not been demonstrated in Spirillum, nor has a definite identification of chromatin or nucleus been made. There is no reason for believing that the nucleus and chromatin must be present in uniform condition in all bacteria.