Histochemical and electrophoretic studies on phosphatases of some Indian trematodes

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe isoenzymes of acid and alkaline phosphatases and their histochemical localization were studied by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis in four species of trematodes:Gigantocotyle explanatumfrom the liver andGastrothylax crumeniferfrom the rumen of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) andEchinostoma malayanumandFasciolopsis buskifrom the small intestine of the pig (Sus scrofa). Both acid and alkaline phosphatases were present in the tegument, gastrodermis, suckers, testes, ovary, eggs, vitellaria and uterus but alkaline phosphatase activity was demonstrated only in the parenchyma and excretory ducts. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed two to four isoenzymes for both acid and alkaline phosphatase.