In vitro estimation of glycogen content in three sheep cestodes

The glycogen content (fresh weight) was biochemically estimated in immature, mature and gravid proglottids of three cestodes, Avitellina centripunctata (Rivolta, 1874), Stilesia globipunctata (Rivolta, 1874) and Moniezia expansa (Rudolphi, 1910), having different niche in the small intestine of sheep. The glycogen gradient was in the order of mature greater than immature greater than gravid proglottids of each species of cestode. Maximum glycogen content was found to be in M. expansa and it was physiologically correlated with the presence of carbon dioxide in the posterior region of the intestine.