SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI AND S SCHISTOSOMA-HAEMATOBIUM - CALCIUM-METABOLISM OF THE VITELLINE CELL

The mature vitelline cell in Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium contains inclusions identified as calcareous corpuscles. They originate in the dilated cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and are eventually released when the vitelline cell starts to disintegrate in the fully formed egg capsule. X-ray microprobe analysis of single-fixed but conventionally prepared specimens, as well as of material quenched in liquid nitrogen slush and cryosectioned, indicated that the corpuscles contained phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. The debris surrounding the developing embryo within the egg capsule also contained the elements phosphorus and calcium. Dosage of infected mice with Astiban produced an increase in total calcium content. © 1979.