The uptake and distribution of radioselenium in the larvae of Fasciola hepatica and its snail host Lymnaea columella.

Radiolabeled metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica were obtained in vivo by incubating infected Lymnaea columella snails with 20 muCi radioselenomethione (75Se-M) per snail in 5 ml of water for 5 h, or in vitro by incubating a batch of unlabeled F. hepatica metacercariae with 75Se-M for 24 h. Radioassay showed that only 5% of the 75Se-M was incorporated into maritas (juvenile flukes) from the in vivo labeled metacercariae. The inner cyst wall of in vivo labeled metacercariae contained 46% of the total activity, of which 21% was dissolved in the excysting medium. The outer, tan-colored cyst wall contained 49% of the radioactivity. Through diffusion/attachment, maritas from in vitro labeled metacercariae could occasionally be labeled with 0.4% of the total radioactivity. However, the activity was lost after inoculation into the body of mice. The outer and inner cyst walls of in vitro labeled metacercariae contained 92% and 7.6%, respectively, of the total activity. Microautoradiography demonstrated that 75Se-M was evenly distributed in the body of marita and the cyst wall of inner and outer layers from an in vivo labeled metacercaria. A 9 X 4 micron rectangularly-shaped aggregate of Ag degree grains was present on the outer periphery of the inner cyst wall. Microautoradiography of in vitro labeled metacercariae demonstrated a significant concentration of Ag degree grains on the cyst walls. The ventral plug contained fewer Ag degree grains per unit area compared to the other portion of the inner cyst wall. Uptake and distribution of 75Se-M in the snail host were also studied. It appeared that rediae and cercariae tended to concentrate the label in the foot, the mantle and the digestive gland. Little or no radioactivity was present in the areas where F. hepatica larvae were not found.