Summary
1. Acanthocephalus ranae has been found to take up glyceryl tri[oleate-9,10-3H] solely through the surface of the trunk. The proboscis and lemnisci play no part in the uptake of this material. The large amounts of lipid present in the latter organs may be evidence of their involvement in lipid excretion.
2. Fat-soluble dyes are taken up by the animal and accumulate in lipid droplets in the lemnisci and proboscis wall. It is suggested that such dyes do not enter the animal through the surface of the proboscis, as has been suggested previously, but through the surface of the trunk.
3. The structure of the acanthocephalan body wall is discussed in relation to the uptake of nutrients.
- Copyright © 1968 The Company of Biologists Ltd.