Mesocestoides corti: Environmental cation concentration in calcareous corpuscles*

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Mesocestoides corti: Environmental cation concentration in calcareous corpuscles. Experimental Parasitology 27, 82-94. The addition of As, Be, Cd, Pb, Sr, and U to the in vitro culture environment has resulted in specific cation concentration within the inorganic constituents of the calcareous corpuscles from Mesocestoides corti. The efficiency of cation concentration is shown by compound and elemental identification using powder X-ray diffraction, emission spectrographic, and radioactivity detection methods.

Divalent ions, whether added to the media or present as trace impurities in the reagents, were found to be strongly concentrated by the tetrathyridia of M. corti if the cationic radius is near that of calcium or magnesium. Ion selectivity is suggested by the small concentration of trivalent arsenic, hexavalent uranium (as U022+), and the inefficient concentration of the small divalent beryllium ions.

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This work was supported in part by the Oregon Division of the American Cancer Society and the National Institute of Health, Grant No. AI-07218-02TMP.

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Present address: Shell Chemical Co., P.O. Box 211, Torrance, California 90509.

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