The influence of natural and induced changes in chromatin on the Feulgen hydrolysis

Numerous deviations from the smooth and continuous hydrolysis patterns of the Feulgen reaction have been described, but no correlation to the composition of the chromatine of different cells has been made. Several models of the hydrolysis have been presented, but none are so constructed as to take into account the arrangement of the different molecules that constitute the chromatin. The present paper discusses the different reactions behind the hydrolysis curve. A model embodying the main features of the chromation structure is presented. It allows for the calculation of extraction rates. The calculated extraction rate curves are compared with the results from different hydrolysis experiments. The predicted and experimentally found results agree closely under a variety of conditions. This suggests that the model describes the main principles of the Feulgen hydrolysis.