STUDIES ON AMPHIBIAN YOLK

Abstract

Previous methods which employed simple sucrose or salt solutions to isolate yolk platelets have failed to preserve their superficial layer, and the preparations obtained generally exhibit some contamination when observed with the light or electron microscope. When yolk platelets are suspended in a sucrose-polyvinylpyrrolidinone medium, however, they remain relatively intact and their superficial layer is not lost to the medium. A method, which takes advantage of this fact, is described for the isolation of frog (Rana pipiens) yolk platelets which are free from nuclear contamination and practically free from cytoplasmic contamination. After such platelets are treated with distilled water, the superficial layer is no longer seen and a new dense and granular matrix is frequently found surrounding the crystalline main body. The significance of this and other observations concerning the effects of calcium and ethylenediamine tetraacetate are discussed.