[Ultrastructural localization of alkaline phosphatase and ATP-ase in cyst stages of Sarcocystis tenella (Sporozoa, Coccidia) parasitic in the esophagus of sheep (author's transl)].

Abstract

The activity of adenosine triphosphatase and alkaline phosphatase was investigated at the fine structural level in the cyst stages of Sarcocystis tenella parasitic in the esophagus of sheep. Alkaline phosphatase reaction was observed along the outer membrane of the parasite's pellicle. The enzymatic activity was much higher on the surface of metrocytes than that of zoites, which proved to be infectious. No reaction was noted in the interior of the parasites. However, a significant amount of alkaline phosphatase activity occurred along the inner surface of the 25 nm thick primary layer of the cyst wall. No evidence of the reaction of this enzyme was seen in the secondary cyst wall, which consisted of degenerated host cells. ATP-ase activity was found in a considerable degree along the primary cyst wall (=directly limiting the cyst's interior), whereas the ground-substance of the cyst, surrounding the parasites, is free of deposits. In the parasites ATP-ase was localized in the endoplasmic reticulum, in the perinuclear space, and between the two inner membranes of the three-layered pellicle. Only rarely a slight reaction was seen in the mitochondria of the metrocytes, which are the reproductive cells. The other organelles typical for S. tenella were free of ATP-ase. The results indicate that the enzymes studied participate in the growing process of the cysts, in which finally the infectious zoites remain in a more or less inactive state. The localizations of the enzymes corresponded with the results known from metazoa.