Physiological and histochemical observations on the adult liver fluke,Fasciola hepaticaL.

Abstract

1. Careful search has failed to disclose the presence of flame cells in the excretory system of the adult liver fluke.2. Fat globules are produced in the walls of the excretory system, and are freed into the lumen, and thus to the exterior.3. These globules do not contain appreciable quantities of cholesterol, cholesterides or lipins, but may contain some unsaturated fatty material.4. The aqueous medium in which the globules float is either neutral or slightly alkaline.5. The distribution of reduced ascorbic acid has been investigated by the silver nitrate technique. This indicates that the main concentration occurs in the smaller vessels of the excretory system, and in the submuscular tissues of the body wall.

Comparative Study of the Reproductive Organs of Fasciola Groups by Optical Microscope.

“…The figure of the report of Lal and Johri [13], who observed F. gigantica, might show the connection of Laurer's canal and the ootype. Our observation agreed with Engbert [3], Madhavi and Rao [14], Rao [20], Stephenson [26], in the observation of F. hepatica, Rao and Madhavi [21] in that of F. gigantica, and Tandon [27] in that of F. indica.…”

“…It might be the ootype that is named by other workers [8,14,21,27]. However, Stephenson [26] stated that the chamber was very narrow, thus indicating that the chamber differs from the ootype observed by us. Yosufzai [40] stated it was wide elliptical chamber, and joined the vitelline duct and oviduct.…”

“…Mehlis' gland is formed by the gland cells [5]. The gland cells are separated into two types [8,26,33,35]. We recognized two types of cells that are differentiated by their size and color.…”

“…The duct is called the ovo-vitelline duct by Rao and Madhavi [21]. Stephenson [26] thought that the uterus begins at the junction of the oviduct and the common vitelline duct, but he called the central chamber the beginning section, and found fine ducts from Mehlis' gland cells gathering in the chamber. It might be the ootype that is named by other workers [8,14,21,27].…”

“…The vitelline reservoir is formed at the rear of Mehlis' gland, and the common vitelline duct [13,27] protruding from the end of it goes to the ootype. This duct is also called the anterior vitelline duct [26], median vitelline duct [20], and median yolk duct [3].…”