title: Schistosoma mansoni: insulin independence.
abstract: Several authors have reported that schistosomes are affected by host hormones, including insulin. We found that insulin in a 10,000-fold range of concentrations failed to affect glucose consumption of males, females, or pairs of Schistosoma mansoni incubated for periods up to 24 hr. Insulin, vasopressin, or tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (an insulin mimic) did not affect the uptake and incorporation of [14C]glucose and [14C]deoxyglucose over the active transport range. Competitive binding studies using 125I-insulin and 125I-insulin-like growth factor II, with varying concentrations of unlabeled hormones, demonstrated only nonspecific binding to intact worms or subcellular fractions. This generalized nonspecific uptake of label was also shown by autoradiography, suggesting that specific insulin receptors are absent from S. mansoni. We conclude that plasma glucose levels are sufficient to supply the metabolic requirements of schistosomes by diffusion, and that no insulin-dependent mechanisms have evolved in these parasites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Clemens
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Basch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000032:analysis; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000378:metabolism*; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D014667:Vasopressins; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D005947:Glucose