Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T13:40:50.108Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of worm, age, weight and number in the infection on the absorption of glucose by Hymenolepis diminuta

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

D. Henderson
D. Henderson
Affiliation:
The Wellcome Laboratories for Experimental Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

In Hymenolepis diminuta the in vitro rate of absorption of glucose/unit dry weight of worm falls with increasing worm age, with increasing worm weight and as the number of worms in an infection is increased. In a 6 mM solution of glucose, a 5 mg (dry weight) worm from a 7 or 8 worm infection absorbed 80 µmoles/g dry weight/5 min whereas a 60 mg worm, also from a 7 or 8 worm infection, absorbed only 35µmoles/g dry weight/5 min. This change in the rate of absorption is, at least partly, thought to be due to changes in the relative surface area: weight ratio during growth of the worm.

The kinetic parameter, Kt glucose, increased from 1.1 mM for a 5 mg (dry weight) worm from a 7 or 8 worm infection to 2 mM for a 60 mg worm. This change in the functioning of the glucose transport system may indicate that there are two components of the glucose transport system – or two separate systems – one with a low Kt and one with a high Kt, the ratios of which change during worm growth.

The smaller the number of worms in an infection the greater the rate of glucose absorption. Using 8–day–old worms in a 6 mM glucose solution, 1 worm from a single worm infection absorbs 111 μmoles/g dry weight/5 min, 1 worm from a 7 or 8 worm infection absorbs 88 μmoles/g dry weight/5 min and 1 worm from a 45–50 worm infection absorbs 77 μmoles/g dry weight/5min. The significance of this is discussed with reference to the ‘crowding effect’ in tapeworms.

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 75 , Issue 3 , December 1977 , pp. 277 - 284
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Aeme, C., Middleton, A. & Scott, J. P. (1973). Absorption of glucose and sodium acetate by cysticercoid larvae of Hymenolepis diminuta. Journal of Parasitology 59, 214.Google Scholar
Bolla, R. I. & Roberts, L. S. (1971). Developmental physiology of cestodes. X. The effect of crowding on carbohydrate levels and on RNA, DNA and protein synthesis in Hymenolepis diminuta. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 40A, 777–87.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Honegger, P. & Semenza, G. (1973). Multiplicity of carriers for free glucalogues in hamster small intestine. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 318, 390–410.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lattbie, J. S. (1957). The in vitro fermentation of carbohydrates by two species of cestodes and one species of Acanthocephala. Experimental Parasitology 6, 245–60.Google Scholar
Kilejian, A. (1966). Permeation of L-proline in the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta. Journal of Parasitology 52, 1108–15.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pappas, P. W. & Read, C. P. (1975). Membrane transport in helminth parasites: a review. Experimental Parasitology 37, 469–530.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Phtfer, K. O. (1960). Permeation and membrane transport in animal parasites. The absorption of glucose by Hymenolepis diminuta. Journal of Parasitology 46, 51–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Read, C. P. (1959). The role of carbohydrates in the biology of cestodes. VIII. Some conclusions and hypotheses. Experimental Parasitology 8, 365–82.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Read, C. P., Rothman, A. H. & Simmons, J. E. JR. (1963). Studies on membrane transport, with special reference to parasite–host integration. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 113, 154–205.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Roberts, L. S. (1966). Developmental physiology of cestodes. I. Host dietary carbohydrate and the ‘crowding effect’ in Hymenolepis diminuta. Experimental Parasitology 18, 305–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Uglem, G. L., Pappas, P. W. & Read, C. P. (1974). Na+-dependent and Na+-independent glycerol fluxes in Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda). Journal of Comparative Physiology 93, 157–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar