Oxygen uptake byDiclidophora merlangi(Monogenea)

Abstract

Diclidophora merlangiwas found to consume oxygen under a variety of experimental conditions. TheQ_o2of homogenates was 0.415 μl oxygen consumed/mg wet wt/h. Oxygen uptake was reduced in the presence of inhibitors: cyanide 0.1 mM and 5.0 mM, 100%; rotenone 10⁻⁶M, 56%; antimycin A10⁻⁶M, 63 %; malonate 10 mM, 36 %; arsenite 5 mM, 46 %; fluoroacetate 5 mM, 47 %. Worms died after 1 h incubation in 1 mM cyanide. It is suggested that these data provide evidence for the existence of a functional TCA cycle and respiratory chain of the classical pattern in this fluke.