THE EFFECT OF AMMONIUM SALTS ON PROTOPLASM OF AMŒBA

Abstract

A study was made of the effects of ammonium salts, hydroxide, carbonate, chloride, phosphate, acetate and citrate, on the protoplasm of Amoeba proteus (?) by immersing the organism in the salts and also by injecting the chemicals into the cell. The salts produce an increase in the viscosity of the protoplasm in immersed amoeba which is followed by a slight swelling of the cell and disintegration of the protoplasm. Injections of the salts, except the carbonate, into amoeba produce a reversible increase in viscosity. The animals recover from dosages equal to 1/4 the volume of the cell. Injections of the carbonate result in disintegration of the cell. The results seem to indicate that the effect of the ammonium salts is due to their action on the plasma membrane and not on the internal protoplasm.