Abstract
The association of the tapeworm with an Addisonian type of anemia in the human has been repeatedly described. The tapeworm may destroy a specific nitrogenous substance necessary for blood regeneration. 1 Observations on the respiration and fermentation of various portions of the sheep tapeworm are reported here preliminary to further studies on the protein metabolism of tapeworms pathogenic to man.
Observations on the respiration, respiratory quotient, and anaerobic and aerobic acid formation of the sheep tapeworm were made, using the technique of Warburg. 2 Small quantities (2 to 40 mg. dry weight) 20 of the head portion, and of the mature and gravid proglottides were studied in phosphate-Ringer or bicarbonate-Ringer solution with 0.2% glucose at a pH of 7.4 and at 37.5°C.
The oxygen consumption decreased for the first 2 hours and then assumed a constant value which continued as long as readings were made (4 to 5 hours). The initial values were about twice those of the values during the steady state. The average values for the QO2 in 8 experiments during the steady state were 1.1 for the head portion, 0.9 for the mature proglottides, and 0.6 for the gravid proglottides. Oxygen consumption was the same under the following conditions: in 100% oxygen, in room air, in solutions with and without glucose, in an intact portion of the worm as compared with an equal adjacent portion when divided into several groups of proglottides.
Four determinations of the respiratory quotient during the first hour gave values of 1.21 and 0.90 for the mature proglottides and 1.00 and 1.16 for the gravid proglottides. The technique was exactly as outlined by Richardson 3 except that 10% citric acid was used to liberate the carbon dioxide. Accurate values could not be obtained because of the relatively small oxygen consumption as compared with the large amount of bound carbon dioxide in the worm.
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