Transmission electron microscopic observations on lipid release in Schistosoma mansoni maintained in vitro

Transmission electron microscopy was done on Schistosoma mansoni adult males and females unpaired immediately following recovery from mice and on worms maintained in Earle's balanced salt solution (EBSS) containing 0.1% glucose and 0.5% lactalbumin hydrolysate for 1.0 h at 37°C. Males incubated for 0.5 and 1.0 h released lipids from non-tuberculate and tuberculate areas of the dorsal tegument. Lipid release was not seen in females. Transmission electron microscopy revealed no apparent damage in worms maintained in BBSS for 1.0 h. Our observations suggest that structures described as “spheres” (Weisberg, Carlisle &; Bentley, 1983) are lipid droplets.