Fine structure and permeability of the metacercarial cyst wall of Clinostomum marginatum (Digenea)

Encysted metacercariae of Clinostomum marginatum (Digenea) were obtained from tissues of yellow perch, Perca flavescens. The outermost wall (host response) as seen under electron microscopy consisted of a single, fibrous tissue layer, 10-25 micron thick. The tissue contained flattened fibrocytes, small fat deposits, and vacuoles embedded between layers of collagen fibers. The cyst cavity was filled with small vesicles, crystals, and debris. No layer corresponding to the primary (parasite-produced) cyst wall secreted by most species of metacercariae was noted. To determine the permeability of the cyst wall, encysted worms were incubated under initial rate conditions with [3H] glucose, with and without the glucose transport inhibitors phlorizin and phloretin. After incubation, the worms were mechanically excysted, washed, and processed to determine glucose uptake rates. Vmax and Kt were greater than those obtained for worms excysted prior to incubation with substrate. Moreover, the presence of phlorizin or phloretin in the incubation medium had no effect on glucose uptake by encysted worms. Thus, the selective permeability of the cyst wall permits free diffusion of glucose to the cutaneous transport systems of the worm, while restricting the movements of phlorizin and phloretin.