The Fine Structure of Trophozoites and Gametocytes in Plasmodium coatneyi*

SYNOPSIS. An electron microscope study of Plasmodium coatneyi in the rhesus monkey supplied information on the fine structure of trophozoites, gametocytes and of the host cell. The trophozoites resemble other mammalian malaria parasites. They do not have typical protozoan mitochondria, but instead a concentric double-membraned organelle, which, it is assumed, performs mitochondrial functions. They feed on the host cell by pinocytosis, engulfing droplets of erythrocytes thru invaginations of the plasma membranes at any region of the cell or thru the cytostome. Digestion of hemoglobin takes place in small vesicles pinched off from the food vacuole proper. Gametocytes can be clearly distinguished into macro- and microgametocytes. Macrogametocytes are covered by 2 plasma membranes, the inner one appearing thicker in some places. The cytoplasm is filled with Palade's particles and has numerous vesicles of endoplasmic reticulum and toxonemes. In microgametocytes most of the inner membrane is thickened, the cytoplasm has few Palade's particles and vesicles of the endoplasmic reticulum and does not have toxonemes. Erythrocytes with trophozoites are irregularly scallop-shaped and have elevated points with knob-like protrusions covered by a double membrane. If these protrusions are sticky they might be in part responsible for clumping and arresting the schizonts and segmenters in the capillaries. The host cell contains numerous Maurer's clefts which in some instances are continuous with the membranes of the parasite suggesting that they might originate from them.