Schistosoma mansoni: female-dependent lipid secretion in males and corresponding changes in lipase activity

Eight to 10-week old Schistosoma mansoni males from unisexual infections were examined histochemically for neutral lipids and lipase activity. In addition, in situ fixed pairs were examined for lipase activity. Neutral lipid content of males from unisexual infections was variable and lipase activity was minimal. Following 1 h incubation at 37 degrees C in Earle's balanced salt solution (EBSS) in which females had previously been maintained for 1 h, males showed moderate increase in lipid content and diminished lipase activity. In contrast, unisexually developed males incubated for 1 h with females from bisexual infections showed increased lipid accumulation and lipase activity. Unisexually developed males incubated for 1 h in EBSS showed both lipid accumulation and release from the dorsal surface. Worm-pairs fixed in situ showed greater lipase activity in females than in males. These observations suggest that a factor(s) released by females affects the physiology of males.