[On the problem of histochemical demonstration of esterase activity by the thiolacetic acid method in the acellular slime mold Physarum confertum (author's translation)].

The application of the histochemical thiolacetic acid method on plasmodia of the acellular slime mold Physarum confertum leads to the formation of lead sulfide deposits at the outer cytoplasmic surface and its invaginations. The reaction cannot be reduced by esterase- and cholin/acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Successive application of lead and sulfide in the absence of substrate results in a lead sulfide deposit at the same sites indicating that the underlying reaction is based on an artificial adsorption of ions at the surface of the plasmodium. This finding means that the thiolacetic acid method is not suited for the demonstration of a surface-associated esterase/cholinesterase activity in slime molds. Based on the ion adsorption property of the surface of plasmodia a simple method is developed for the "in toto" demonstration of the plasmamembrane-invagination-system in aceullar slime molds.