Glycogen Distribution in Cysticercoids of Three Hymenolepidid Cestodes

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Abstract
The presence of polysaccharide, in all probability glycogen, has been demonstrated by histochemical methods in cysticercoids of the tape-worms Hymenolepis nana, H. diminuta and H. citelli. A high concentration of this material is seen in the tail, in the scolex, and in the tissues immediately surrounding the scolex and continuous with it. The remaining enveloping layers contain little or no glycogen. Observations on different developmental stages of the larvae indicate that the amount of glycogen increases as development and growth proceed. Larvae grown at different temperatures ranging from 20-37[degree]C did not show any significant differences in the distribution of glycogen, with the exception of H. diminuta in which, when grown at 20[degree]C, the amount of glycogen in the tail of the cysticercoids was very much reduced. Comparison of newly-matured larvae with larvae as old as 90 days did not show any differences in amount or distribution of glycogen.