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Amino acid flux in the sporocysts of Cercaria emasculans Pelseneer, 1906 in vitro

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

Stuart D. M. Watts
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Southampton, Hants SO9 5NH

Extract

Quantitative paper chromatography and radioactive tracers were used to study the flux of alanine through the sporocysts of Cercaria emasculans in vitro. The following evidence indicates that simple diffusion is the main mechanism of permeation: (1) the sporocysts cannot accumulate alanine against a concentration gradient; (2) the concentration of alanine in the sporocysts is a direct linear function of the concentration of alanine in the external environment; (3) addition of 10−2 M glucose to the medium does not enhance permeation; (4) neither heat-killing the sporocysts nor treating them with 10−3 M iodoacetate slows the rate of permeation; (5) the Q10's for the permeation are similar to those to be expected in a process involving simple diffusion; (6) the amino acid molarities in the parasite and host tissues in vivo are strikingly similar. No utilization of alanine during the course of 3 h incubations could be detected by autoradiography.

The dynamic nature of the equilibrium between the sporocysts and the external environment is emphasized by the exchange of alanine that occurred even under isotonic conditions.

Fresh sporocysts leaked alanine and proline during 1 and 4 h incubations in vitro. The significance of this is not known.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1972

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