Metabolism of C(14)-glucose by plerocercoid of Diphyllobothrium sp

The glucose uptake rate by plerocercoid of Diphyllobothrium sp. was a mean value of 5.35+/-0.80 micro-mole/hr/g of wet wt, and total CO(2) production rates by the plerocercoid larva averaged 7.54+/-0.73 micro-mole/hr/g of wet wt. The relative specific activity into respiratory CO(2) showed a mean value of 7.30 +/-0.90 per cent. The rate of CO(2) production derived from medium C(14)-glucose was a mean of 0.58+/-0.13 micro-mole/hr/g of wet wt. Therefore, the average value of 1.92+/-0.38 per cent of glucose utilized by the larvae from the medium C(14)-glucose was oxidized to respiratory CO(2). The tissue concentration of glycogen in plerocercoid larva was a mean of 46.28 +/-2.23 mg/g or 4.63+/-0.22 per cent/g of wet wt., and the turnover rate of glycogen pool was a mean of 0.049 +/- 0.012 %/hr or 0.010 +/- 0.003 mg/hr/g of wet wt. The average value of 2.76+/-1.00 per cent of glucose utilized by the larvae from the medium C(14)-glucose was incorporated to the glycogen. These data accounts for that only 5 per cent of the utilized glucose by the plerocercoid larvae participated in furnishing the oxidation into respiratory CO(2) and the synthetic process into glycogen.

Metabolism of C(14)-glucose by Fasciola hepatica

The glucose uptake rate by Fasciola hepatica was a mean value of 9.62 +/- 0.54 micro-mole/hr/g, and total CO(2) production rate by the flukes averaged 24.28 +/- 4.26 micro-mole/hr/g wet wt. The relative specific activity of respiratory CO(2) showed a mean value of 79.89 +/- 1.78 per cent. The rate of CO(2) production derived from medium C(14)-glucose was a mean of 19.55 +/- 3.56 micro-mole/hr/g of we wt. Therefore, the average value of 32.72 +/- 4.8 percent of glucose utilized by the flukes from the medium C(14)-glucose was oxidized to respiratory CO(2). The tissue concentration of glycogen in F. hepatica was a mean of 38.36 +/- 2.91 mg/g or 3.84 +/- 0.29 %/g of wet wt, and the turnover rate of glycogen pool was a mean of 1.6+/-0.22 %/hr or 0.65 +/- 0.13 mg/hr/g. The average value of 37.26 +/- 3.86 per cent of glucose utilized by the fluke from the medium C(4)-glucose was incorporated to the glycogen. These data account for that approximately 70 per cent of the utilized glucose by the flukes participated in furnishing the oxidation into respiratory CO(2) and the synthetic process into glycogen.