Glycocalyx Modifications in Acanthocephalans

Abstract

Published reports and the author’s own data concerning the morphology of glycocalyx on the acanthocephalan tegument surface have been analyzed. Successive formation of up to six glycocalyx modifications that differ with regard to dimensions and certain structural characteristics has been shown to occur during the life cycle of these worms. All modifications could apparently be subdivided into two groups that corresponded to “intestinal” and “tissue” acanthocephalan forms. Glycocalyx was the thickest in the tissue forms, namely, cystacanths from intermediate hosts and juvenile worms from paratenic hosts. This may be due to involvement of the glycocalyx in defense from the cellular reaction of the host organism.