Development of an in vitro technique for cytological investigations of slices of Fasciola hepatica: Evaluation by physiological criteria

In order to check the via bilityof Fasciola hepatica slices, maintained in M199 under defined physico-chemical conditions, their rates of consumption of oxygen and glucose were determined, throughout a 12-h period, using polarographic and spectrophotometric techniques. The results, when compared with similar determinations on intact animals, indicated that the slices remained as viable as incubated whole flukes, for at least 12 h. This finding supports ultrastructural evidence detailed in a previous publication. The slices were shown to consume more oxygen and less glucose than whole animals, and possible reasons for this are discussed. Studies on the effects of DNP and iodoacetate on the uptake behaviour of slices suggested that in Fasciola hepatica, as in aerobes, most of the oxygen and glucose consumed is involved with energy metabolism. Hence, oxygen and glucose uptake rates are probably valid criteria of tissue viability for the slices.