Chemical composition of lipid droplets isolated from larvae of Taenia taeniaeformis.

Young developing larvae of Taenia taeniaeformis contain large deposits of osmiophilic droplets. These droplets are spherical, approximately 1.5 micron in diameter and are primarily localized in the tegument. After cellular disruption of the parasite, followed by centrifugation, the lipid droplets were found in a floating layer of lipid. The lipid droplets in the lipid layer resembled the droplets as seen in situ. The isolated lipid droplets mainly consisted of neutral lipids with triglycerides, sterol esters, sterols and free fatty acids being the major components. Smaller amounts of other neutral lipids were also present, as were glycolipids, phospholipids and protein. The lipid droplets were not membrane bound. The relationship between lipid droplets, lipid utilization and membrane synthesis during parasite growth is discussed.