Histochemistry of the racemose form of Cysticercus cellulosae

Abstract

The racemose form of brain cysticercosis arises from an intense proliferation of the bladder wall after the scolex part has degenerated. The proliferating zones are 2-3 times thicker than the remaining parts of the bladder and are characterized by a densely folded tegument and thick subtegumental and parenchymal layers. The tegument and subtegumental cells contain a large amount of acid mucosubstances with sulpho groups and hydrophilic lipids, and exhibit a high activity of alkaline and acid phosphatases. The parenchyma contains a large amount of glycogen. With the gradual aging of the bladder wall and with the first signs of autolysis, the enzymatic activity as well as the amounts of glycogen, neutral and acid mucosubstances, and proteins decrease, and the hydrophobic lipids prevail over the hydrophilic ones. The results obtained are important for the differential diagnostics of cestode larval stages in the human brain.