Excretion of lipids by the liver fluke (<i>Fasciola Hepatica</i> L)

Abstract

Adult liver flukes kept in a glucoseenriched medium were found to excrete lipids. Analysis of the incubation medium showed that both neutral lipids (including cholesterol and its esters) and polar lipids were released. The rate of lipid excretion was greatly reduced when the excretory pores and mouths of the flukes were ligated. Histochemical examination of the flukes indicated that such lipids, released through the excretory pores, originate in the cells lining the excretory ducts.