Glycosaminoglycans of tegumental fractions of Hymenolepis diminuta.

The teguments of 6 and 10 day-old Hymenolepis diminuta were removed with Triton X-100 and separated into brush border and vesicular fractions by differential centrifugation. Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) isolated from these tissues and from the denuded carcass were treated with specific GAG-degrading enzymes and other chemical agents and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide, agarose gel and cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Both 6 and 10 day-old worm carcasses contained chondroitin sulfate, heparin/heparan sulfate and hyaluronic acid. The 10 day-old worm brush border and vesicle fractions contained chondroitin sulfate but no heparin-like material. Colorimetric analysis showed that the carcasses of both 6 and 10 day-old worms contained uronic acid. About 98% of the detectable uronic acid of 10 day-old worms was found in the carcass, and only 2% in the brush border fraction. No uronic acid was detected in the other tegumental fractions.