Mechanism of cholesterol absorption by the hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosus (Cestoda)

Abstract

1. 1. The mechanism of cholesterol absorption by hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosus was studied in function of time of incubation, size of cysts, temperature of incubation, concentration of cholesterol substrate and presence of metabolic inhibitor. 2. 2. The results indicated that the uptake of cholesterol continuously increased with time of incubation, that small cysts absorbed cholesterol better than large ones, that the optimum temperature for uptake was 25°C and that uptake increased with increase in concentration of substrate. 3. 3. The addition of the metabolic inhibitor 2, 4-dinitrophenol did not affect the process of absorption thus eliminating the participation of the mechanisms of active transport or facilitated diffusion. 4. 4. It was suggested that mechanisms of simple diffusion and possibly exchange diffusion are operating in cholesterol absorption by hydatid cysts.