Dr. Murai Éva - Gubányi András szerk.: Parasitologia Hungarica 27. (Budapest, 1994)

Histochemical studies on the forebody glands of metacercariae and adults of Clinostomum complanatum (Rudolphi, 1819) A M. N. KALANTAN

1

, M. ÁRPIN

1 and W. A. NIZAMI

2 1 Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia. Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh-202002, India (Received 15 May, 1994) Abstract: The forebody glands in the metacercaria and adult of Clinostomum complanatum were studied by histochemical techniques. The glands were unicelluar and contained acid mucopolysaccharides, basic proteins, dityrosine, elastin, fibrin, glycogen, keratin-like proteins, tyrosine and RNA. Moderate to intense activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases, acetylcholinesterase and non-specific esterase were noticed. The possible functional involvement of these secretory products of the glands is suggested. Key words: Clinostomum complanatum, forebody glands, metacercaria, adult. INTRODUCTION Glands are common in the forebody of trematodes, particularly in the vicinity of suckers (Smyth and Halton 1983). However, very few reports are available on the chemical composition of the secretory products of these glands and their functions in adults, which may be different in various species (Davies 1979). Glands in the cercarial and metacercarial stages of trematodes may be histolytic (for penetration), cystogenic or adhesive (mucoid) in function (Erasmus 1972). In the present study, the forebody glands in the metacercaria and adult of Clinostomum complanatum were studied using histochemical techniques to localize the various biochemical constituents and some enzymes, in order to provide possible clues to their biological significance and functions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Encysted metacercariae of Clinostomum complanatum were obtained from the naturally infected cyprinodontid fish Aphanius dispar. In vitro excystation was carried