Ultrastructural localization of alkaline phosphatase in the eggs of Hydatigera taeniaeformis (Taenia taeniaeformis).

Freshly shed gravid proglottids from a three-month-old infection of Hydatigera taeniaeformis collected from the faecal droppings of infected cats were used for this study. They were treated for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) followed by incubation using the lead precipitate method. Control sections were incubated in a substrate-free medium, a substrate medium containing 1.0 mM sodium fluoride (NaF) (an inhibitor), and the last sections were denatured at 90 degrees C for 1 min prior to incubation. Intensive alkaline phosphatase activity in the embryophoric blocks and the outer embryophoric membrane was revealed. The reaction products were also indicated in the oncospheral membrane. However, no enzyme activity was seen in any other part of the egg. The enzyme was also absent in the control sections. The presence of alkaline phosphatase activity in the outer embryophoric and oncospheral membranes suggested that this enzyme may be involved in carbohydrate metabolism and nutritional absorption, and also may play a role in the transport of nutrients and other substances from the adult to the developing embryo, respectively.