Zdzislaw Swiderski

Echinococcus granulosus: Hook-muscle systems and cellular organisation of infective oncospheres

The morphology of the oncospheres of Echinococcus granulosus has been reconstructed from thin and semi-thin serial sections. Four major types of oncospheral cells have been identified. These consist of: (1) a bi-nucleate medullary center, (2) glandular regions (eight nuclei) subdivided into three types of oncospheral glands, (3) ten germinative cells, and (4) 34 muscle cells, of which 16 are somatic and 18 are hook muscle cells. The hook muscle cells of each hook are organized functionally into the three following systems: (1) the protraction system, for hook extension, (2) the abduction system for drawing the hooks together toward the median plane of bilateral symmetry, and (3) the retraction system for pulling the hooks back into the body. The interconnections observed between different muscle fibers provide a structural basis for coordinated hook action.

Electron microscopy and histochemistry of oncospheral hook formation by the cestode Catenotaenia pusilla

Abstract Swiderski Z. 1973. Electron microscopy and histochemistry of oncospheral hook formation by the cestode Catenotaenia pusilla. International Journal for Parasitology 3: 27–33. Ultrastructure and histochemistry of oncospheral hook development in the cestode C. pusilla are described. The six anlagen of embryonal hooks appear in six specialized hook forming cells (oncoblasts) in the advanced phase of the preoncosphere. Electron microscopy shows a close connection of hook primordium with an abundance of free ribosomes, extended Golgi regions, and mitochondrial aggregations, evidently engaged in the hook morphogenesis. The shank completion occurs simultaneously with the progressive degeneration of hook forming cells, which completely disappears in the last phase of hook development. The mature oncospheral hook is a heterogeneous, bipartite structure composed of a dense outer sheath or cortex and a less dense inner core. Histochemistry shows evident changes in the reactivity for —SH, and —S—S— groups through the consecutive stages of hook development. The early hook anlage shows strongly positive reaction for sulfhydryl (—SH) groups (unconsolidated prekeratin), which remains in the subsequent stages mainly in the zone of keratinization, undergoing continuous displacement toward the base during hook maturation. The sulfhydryl groups of prokeratin through the oxidation process form bisulfite (—S—S—) links of mature hook keratin; reactivity for —SH groups completely disappears. The difference in electron density between the outer and inner part of the hook corresponds to a different reactivity for —S—S— links; the outer sheath shows evidently stronger reaction than the inner core.

Comparative scanning electron microscope (SEM) study of miracidia of four human schistosome species

Abstract The miracidia of four human blood flukes, Schistosoma haematobium , S. intercalatum , S. mansoni and S. japonicum , have been studied by means of the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Differences have been observed in their respective dimensions, in the configuration of their terebratoria (apical papillae), in the shape of the epidermal plates, and in the distribution of the sensory receptors. The most evident differences have been noticed on the terebratoria where two main patterns of organization of the anastomosing membrane foldings have been described: (1) a ‘rosette’ pattern observed in S. haematobium and S. intercalatum and (2) a ‘honeycomb’ pattern in S. mansoni and S. japonicum . The structure and the taxonomic importance of these morphological features are analysed.

Morphology of the spermatid and spermatozoon of Amblyomma hebraeum Koch (Acarina; Ixodidae)

SummarySpermatids and spermatozoa of Amblyomma hebraeum were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as by freeze-etch and freeze-fracture techniques.The external surface of the spermatid is smooth except for a rim of two parallel grooves near the anterior apex. This rim probably marks the level at which a cap detaches, permitting extrusion of the inner cord during spermatozoon maturation. Both ends of the spermatid are closed, the anterior part being slightly thicker than the posterior.The spermatozoon is clavate anteriorly and tail-like posteriorly. The tip of the anterior part is a hemispherical structure carrying numerous bulbous expansions. Apart from the hemishperical structure, the entire spermatozoon surface is covered with parallel longitudinal cellular processes. Waves of constrictions on the tail-like part of the spermatozoon and undulations of the cellular processes are considered to be involved in sperm motility.

Oncospheral hook morphogenesis in the davaineid cestode Inermicapsifer madagascariensis (Davaine, 1870) Baer, 1956

Abstract The fine structural characteristics of oncospheral hook morphogenesis in the davaineid cestode Inermicapsifer madagascariensis are described. The primordia of the hooks appear in the oncoblasts of embryos in the advanced stage of development, in which there is a greatly reduced number of blastomeres that exhibit a bilaterally symmetrical pattern in their organization. The hook primordium, adjacent to the invaginated part of the nuclear envelope, is surrounded by an abundance of free ribosomes, mitochondrial aggregations and extended Golgi regions. Simultaneously with its elongation and transformation into a blade, the hook primordium material becomes differentiated to form an electron dense cortex and a less dense, inner, crystal-like core. At the beginning of shank formation, the blade of the hook protrudes outside the oncoblast. The membrane-enclosed point of exit of the blade is surrounded by a cytoplasmic sheath which later forms a circular, septate desmosome. With oncoblast degeneration, muscle fibres attach directly to the collar and the base of the hook.

Schistosoma haematobium: Oxidoreductase histochemistry and ultrastructure of niridazole-treated females

Abstract Administration of niridazole to Saccostomus campestris produced changes in enzyme activity in Schislosoma haematobium females as indicated histochemically by a decrease in the activity of cytochrome oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1), malate (NAD) dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37), malate (NADP) dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.40), succinate dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.99.11), isocitrate (NAD) dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.41), isocitrate (NADP) dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.42), lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49), NADH: tetrazolium oxidoreductase, NADPH: tetrazolium oxidoreductase, and a disappearance of both the activity of phenolase (EC 1.10.3.1) and the reactivity of vitelline phenols. These changes were associated with the following alterations in the ultrastructure of the parasites: a decrease in number of immature vitelline cells of gonial type, a disruption of the tegument surface, a swelling of mitochondria in vitelline cells, a disappearance of the regular structure of the endoplasmic reticulum and a vaeuolization of the cytoplasm in vitelline cells, an appearance of areas of focal cytoplasmic degradation in vitelline cells, and a disruption of shell globules. The degree of changes in enzyme activity and ultrastructure increased both with increase in the dose of niridazole administered to the hosts, and with length of time after treatment. Preincubation of control sectioned material in a buffered niridazole-sucrose solution produced total inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase activity, whereas the activity of other enzymes examined remained unchanged.

Regional specialization of the sperm membrane in the tick Amblyomma hebraeum koch (Acari: Ixodidae)

SummaryThe spermatozoon of Amblyomma hebraeum is about 200 μm long and comprises: (1) a thick, club-shaped anterior part, about 20 μm long bearing at its apex a “tactile” hemisphere, and (2) an elongated tail-like part, about 180 μm long. The surface of the “tactile” hemisphere is covered by numerous bulbous expansions, attached to it by short stalks. The base of the hemisphere is surrounded by a fringe of thin motile processes; the remaining surface of the spermatozoon is covered with long cellular processes which run more or less parallel to one another.The membrane-associated particles found on the membrane beneath the cellular processes are regularly arranged as groups of parallel strands. The external surface of the so-called “peripheral granules”, as revealed by freeze-etching, is smooth with a very small number of particles. Internally the particles exhibit a regular hexagonal pattern which has not been observed, so far, on any other membrane of these sperm cells.The regional specialization of the spermatozoon surface membrane in relation to sperm motility is discussed. The results obtained indicate that processes of three types: (1) bulbous expansions, (2) motile processes, and (3) cellular processes are regional specializations, all engaged in aspects of sperm motility.

Schistosoma haematobium: Histochemistry of glycogen, glycogen phosphorylase a and glycogen branching enzyme in niridazole-treated females

The body posterior to the ovary of Schistosoma haematobium females was investigated. Glycogen, glycogen phosphorylase a (EC 2.4.1.1) and glycogen branching enzyme (EC 2.4.1.18) activities were detected in the subtegumental muscle system, parenchyma and mature vitelline cells, whereas no activities were detected in the tegument and immature vitelline cells of the parasite. Administration of a single niridazole dose of 250 mg kg-1 to the pouched mouse (Saccostomus camestris) produced the following changes in S. haematobium females: a relatively rapid depletion of glycogen stores due to disruption of the absorptive surface of the parasite, and to an increase in the activity of glycogen phosphorylase a; a reduction in the phosphorylase a to phosphorylase b-conversion capacity of glycogen phosphorylase phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.17); a decrease in glycogen branching enzyme activity; and a relatively rapid degeneration of parasite cells possibly due to their loss of endogenous energy reserves.