The effect of colchicine on translocation of incorporated [3H] proline in Hymenolepis diminuta.

Portions of adult Hymenolepis diminuta were exposed to a fixed concentration of colchicine (5 X 10(-4) M) in order to determine its effect upon incorporation of [3H] L-proline. Additional studies of the effect of colchicine upon tegumental morphology were performed. Autoradiographs showed a significant decrease in amount of incorporated label in the distal tegument of colchicine tissue and a heavy accumulation of label in the parenchyma. Radioassays indicated that the effect of colchicine on proline-incorporated protein was qualitative rather than quantitative suggesting that colchicine inhibits translocation in the tegument. It was hypothesized that microtubules within the internuncial processes facilitate movement of cell products from tegumentary cytons to the body surface.