Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T01:47:02.700Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Schistosoma mansoni: an examination of the reproductive status of females from single sex infections

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

J. R. Shaw  and
D. A. Erasmus
J. R. Shaw
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University College, Cathays Park, Cardiff
D. A. Erasmus
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University College, Cathays Park, Cardiff
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The variation in the development of the reproductive system of female Schistosoma mansoni from single sex infections is described. Vitelline cell development was assessed by staining for phenolic substances and the development of Mehlis' gland and the ovary by electron microscopy. Although there was considerable variation in the development of worms from individual mice harbouring infections of the same age, the mean values indicated that there was a low level of differentiation and turnover of vitelline cells in worms 30–200 days post-infection. The proportion of females which possessed mature vitelline cells showed a general increase with age. The ovary was always in an immature stage but the development of Mehlis' gland showed some variation. The results suggest that the stimulus given by the male to the female is not necessarily to initiate development of the reproductive system but to increase the rate of development of the vitelline gland and to co-ordinate the development of the entire reproductive system.

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 82 , Issue 1 , February 1981 , pp. 121 - 124
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Armstrong, J. C. (1965). Mating behaviour and development of schistosomes in the mouse. Journal of Parasitology 43, 197–206.Google Scholar
Bell, E. J. & Smyth, J. D. (1958). Cytological and chemical criteria for evaluation of development of trematodes and pseudophyllidean cestodes in vivo and in vitro. Parasitology 48, 131–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brumpt, E. (1936). Precis de Parasitologie. 5th editionParis.Google Scholar
Erasmus, D. A. (1973). A comparative study of the reproductive system of mature, immature and ‘unisexual’ female Schistosoma mansoni. Parasitology 67, 165–83.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Erasmus, D. A. (1975). Schistosoma mansoni: development of the vitelline cell, its role in drug sequestration and changes induced by Astiban. Experimental Parasitology 38, 240–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moore, D. V., Yolles, T. K. & Meleney, H. E. (1954). The relationship of male worms to the sexual development of female Schistosoma mansoni. Journal of Parasitology 40, 166–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shaw, J. R. (1977). Schistosoma mansoni: pairing in vitro and development of females from single sex infections. Experimental Parasitology 41, 54–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shaw, J. R., Marshall, I. M. & Erasmus, D. A. (1977). Schistosoma mansoni: in vitro stimulation of vitelline cell development by extracts of male worms. Experimental Parasitology 42, 14–20.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Short, R. B. (1952). Uniparental miracidia of Schistomatium douthitti and progeny (Trematoda, Schistosomatidae). American Midland Naturalist 48, 55–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, M. G., Amin, M. B. & Nelson, G. S. (1969). Parthenogenesis in Schistosoma mattheei. Journal of Helminthology 43, 197–206.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed