Biochemical changes during the development of the miracidium of Gigantocotyle explanatum

Analysis of various biochemical components during the development of the miracidium of G. explanatum showed marked changes, particularly in glycogen, protein and DNA levels. Though the total lipids remained more or less unchanged, alterations in the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids and phospholipid fractions were also recorded. Such changes could be intrinsically programmed for the cellular differentiation and organogenesis in larval amphistomes.