| Abstract: | In vitro cultivation of tissues and cells provides an experimental methodology to define and manipulate physiological mechanisms that are not possible with in vivo techniques. Tissues from the germinative-growth zones of adult Ascaris suum gonads were excised and minced, and then enzymatically dispersed and transferred to an artificial, perienteric fluid-fetal calf-serum-medium complex. Cells were maintained in a viable state for 8 days, with medium replacement every 48 hours. During this period, morphological changes in the gonadal cells included decreased size, dedifferentiation, and degeneration. Two indices of metabolism, evolution of ¹⁴CO₂ from radiolabelled glucose and reduction of the tetrazolium salt MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium), decreased by approximately 50% and 60%, respectively. The in vitro procedures developed provide the first opportunity to examine specific cellular functions of nematode reproductive tissues over an extended period of time. |
