Effects of ox bile on the growth and organogenesis of Hymenolepis microstoma in vitro.

Hymenolepis microstoma has been cultured in vitro from 4 to 11 days of age using Eagle's medium (BME) supplemented with horse serum, lamb's liver extract and ox gall (dehydrated bile) in five different concentrations (0.025%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5% and 1% all in BME) including a control without the added ox gall. The results of these experiments demonstrated that growth is related inversely to the concentration of ox gall in the media. However, the number of proglottids containing fertilized ova in the "lateral sacs" becomes higher in worms grown in the medium containing 0.025% ox bile than in those grown in the control medium. This number increases with the bile concentration up to 0.2%. It is concluded that bile stimulates oogenesis and in higher concentrations retards the growth of worms.