Distribution of lyo- and desmo-glycogen in relation to growth and maturity of proglottids of Moniezia benedeni.

Lyo- and desmo-glycogen were estimated in relation to growth and maturity of proglottids of a cestode, Moniezia benedeni. Total and lyo-glycogen show an increasing trend from immature to mature region (i.e., from region 1 to 6) and the increased level seen in the 6th region is maintained up to the 9th region with a fall in the 10th (gravid) region. These results indicate that mature proglottids store more carbohydrate than immature and gravid proglottids. Desmo-glycogen showed no variation in different regions of the strobila. The percentage of lyo-glycogen to total carbohydrate reveals that most of the carbohydrate (85-93%) is stored in a labile form.